ETC SmartFade ML User Manual

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Control Console User Manual

Version 3.0.1

Product information and specifications subject to change.

Part Number:

7219M1210-3.0.1

Released: 2011-10

Rev A

ETC intends this document, whether printed or electronic, to be provided in its entirety.

ETC permits the reproduction of materials in this manual only for non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved by ETC.

ETC

, Emphasis®, Expression®, Insight™, Imagine™, Focus™, Express™, Unison®, Obsession® II, SmartPack®,

SmartFade™, ETCNet2™, EDMX™, Source Four

, Revolution®, Sensor®, and WYSILink™ are either registered

trademarks or trademarks of Electronic Theatre Controls, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Microsoft

and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other

countries.

All other trademarks, both marked and not marked, are the property of their respective owners.

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Using this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Menu Directions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Text Conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Help from ETC Technical Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Power-up and Shutdown Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Unpack & Connect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Power-up Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Shutdown Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Save & Load to Memory Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Save Show to Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Quick Save Show to Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Load show from Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Load Patch from Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Load User Personalities from Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Load Personalities from Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Format SD Memory Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Control Capacity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Frontpanel Functionality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

General Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Faders & Bump Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Master & Black Out Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Independents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Crossfader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Sequence & Stack Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Record & Edit Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

The Select Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

LCD & Wheel Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Philosophy of the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

HTP and LTP control rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Different Ways to Use SmartFade ML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Data Structure & Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

DMX Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

DMX Out Speed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Clear/Set Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Clear Intensity Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Set Intensity Patch 1:1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Clear Device Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Patch Dimmers (INT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Patch by Dimmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Patch by Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Patch Independents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Set up Independents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Patch Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Device Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Patch Multiple Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Device Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

View/Modify Device Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Device Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Console Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Erase Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Default Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Crossfade Faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Memory Rubberband . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

DMX Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

MIDI Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Software Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

LED Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Save LED Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Load LED Calibration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Chapter 3

MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

MIDI Show Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

Synchronising Two SmartFades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Basic MIDI Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

MIDI Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Sending MIDI Controllers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Custom Moving Light Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Custom Moving Light Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Open the Personality Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Edit a Personality Live . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33

Special - Color Mix CMY, RGB & RAGB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Edit a Personality Blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Example (Blind) - Pan/Tilt 16 Bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Special - Fade With Intensity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Special - Invert Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Intensity Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Live or Next Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Adjust Channel Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Set Channel Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41

Devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Select Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

Device Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

ii SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Device Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

Device Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

General Device Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Shape effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

Offset Relations In Shape and Color Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52

Color Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Linear Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Record a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Record a Snapshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Copy a Snapshot to a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Clear all Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Record a Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Record the Stack from Bumps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

Record a Stack State or “Cue”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

Chapter 4

Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Edit Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Edit a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

Delete a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Delete Multiple Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Copy a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67

Default Device Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Memory FCB Times. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68

Edit Sequences & Stack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Edit the Content of a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Delete a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Insert a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Insert a PointQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Change the Content of a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Copy a Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Delete a Sequence or the Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72

Run Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

Sequence & Stack Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74

Edit Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Edit Shape Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Edit Linear Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

Edit Color Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Chapter 5

Edit Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Playback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

General Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Master & Black Out function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

iii

Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Bump Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Select Fader Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Memory Fader Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Memory Bump Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Clear Output from Memory Faders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Examples of Using Memory Faders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84

Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Select Fader Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Sequence Bump Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

Rate & BPM for Sequences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

Stack & Crossfader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

General Crossfader Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Stack functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

Change Times For The Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Rate for the Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88

Single Scene Crossfading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

Appendix A

Software Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Update the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

iv SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the SmartFade ML lighting control console. The SmartFade ML console offers a great feature range including hands-on manual control, memory driven operation, and an impressive array of features for systems work. SmartFade ML is perfect for any venue, usable for small touring shows, auditorium productions, or as a stage manager’s remote console.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Using this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

• Help from ETC Technical Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

• Power-up and Shutdown Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

• Save & Load to Memory Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Introduction 1

Using this Manual

BLACK

OUT

This manual will hopefully get you up and running in no time. These are the manual conventions.

Instructions

Instructions are shown in a table with columns for Action, Console and Feedback.

Action Console Feedback

Activate Blackout mode Button lights up. No output except from the

* There may be a comment like this with an asterisk.

Menu Directions

Many functions require menu navigation. For brevity’s sake, menu navigation is conveyed in the following method:

Menu>Settings>Language>[English]

Each “>” indicates passage to a new menu sublevel, usually by pressing the MENU button. Items [within brackets] are changed with the wheels or the SEL or MORE buttons.

Displays are shown like this

Independents.*

Text Conventions

• Buttons in tables are shown as images. Buttons in text are indicated with bold capital letters followed by the word button. Like STACK button.

• References to other parts of the manual are indicated in italics. When viewing this manual electronically, click on the reference to jump to that section of the manual.

Note:

CAUTION:

Notes are helpful hints and information that is supplemental to the main text.

A Caution statement indicates situations where there may be undefined or unwanted consequences of an action, possible data loss or equipment problems.

Please E-mail comments about this manual to: TechComm@etcconnect.com

2 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Help from ETC Technical Services

If you are having difficulties, your most convenient resources are the references given in this user manual. To search more widely, try the ETC Web site at www.etcconnect.com You can ask other users for advice on the ETC forums at www.etcconnect.com/community.

If none of these resources is sufficient, contact ETC Technical Services directly at one of the offices identified below. Emergency service is available from all ETC offices outside of normal business hours.

When calling for help, please have the following information handy:

• Console model and serial number (located on back panel)

• Dimmer manufacturer and installation type

• Other components in your system (Unison

, other consoles, etc.)

Americas

Electronic Theatre Controls Inc.

Technical Services Department

3031 Pleasant View Road

Middleton, WI 53562

800-775-4382 (USA, toll-free)

+1-608 831-4116

service@etcconnect.com

Asia

ETC Asia, Ltd.

Technical Services Department

Room 1801, 18/F, Tower 1

Phase 1, Enterprise Square

9 Sheung Yuet Road

Kowloon Bay, Kowloon,

Hong Kong

+852 2799 1220

service@etcasia.com

United Kingdom

Electronic Theatre Controls Ltd.

Technical Services Department

26-28 Victoria Industrial Estate

Victoria Road,

London W3 6UU England

+44 (0)20 8896 1000

service@etceurope.com

Germany

Electronic Theatre Controls GmbH

Technical Services Department

Ohmstrasse 3

83607 Holzkirchen, Germany

+49 (80 24) 47 00-0

techserv-hoki@etcconnect.com

Introduction 3

Power-up and Shutdown Procedures

Unpack & Connect

You can get SmartFade ML up and running in no time.

• Unpack

• Connect power

• Connect DMX to dimmers, moving lights, scrollers and LEDs

• Power up

Power-up Procedure

SmartFade ML uses the power button for power-up and power-down. It is also used to access the operating mode selection menu.

Action Console Feedback

Press and release The LCD shows the current software version.

* During the startup process, LEDs will fade to full brightness regardless of user settings.

Shutdown Procedure

Action Console Feedback

1. Press and release The LCD shows a message asking that you

2a. Confirm Console is shut down.

2b. Cancel Shutdown is cancelled and operation

When you use the shutdown procedure, the SmartFade ML console will complete any pending operations and save any system data as required to ensure error-free startup at the next session. Disconnecting power from the console while it is shut down produces no ill effects.

The button LEDs will light up in the following order: GREEN, RED, rest. After this all LEDs light to the levels appropriate to the selected mode of operation. *

confirm the shutdown command.

resumed.

4 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Operating Modes

Hold the power button during start-up to enter the Operating Modes menu. This allows you to select different operating modes.

Action Console Feedback

1. Press and hold (console must be off)

2. Select mode Wheel (3) >Full control

3. Activate mode The console will enter the selected mode.

The LCD shows the Operating Modes menu.

All functions available

>Control & Playback

No recording or patch functions.

>Playback only

All intensity and device direct control functions are disabled as well as record and patch.

The console will continue to power up in this mode until the mode is changed.

Introduction 5

Save & Load to Memory Card

SmartFade ML uses either a standard SD Memory card or SDHC Memory card as the primary external storage device. Before you can use a new SD card make sure it is formatted correctly (FAT16). See “Format SD Memory Card” on page 9.

Note:

CAUTION:

When using SDHC Memory cards for show file storage, please use the following guidelines for best performance:

• Keep your show file names to 8 characters or less. This will ensure the entire name can be viewed in the SmartFade LCD display when loading and saving shows.

• Keep fewer than 100 show files in the root directory of your SDHC Memory card. Other file types or archived show files should be kept in folders on the card. This will speed performance of reading the file directory and will help to minimize excessive scrolling of the file menu.

Only standard SD Memory cards or connection to a PC via USB may be used for updating the software on a SmartFade console. Software update is not possible using an SDHC Memory card.

The file format is ASCII Text Representation for Lighting Console Data. This format is compatible with all systems that follow this standard. Although there may be discrepancies between systems, usually the main play data is compatible. See www.usitt.org.

Save Show to Card

This is done from the Save/Load Show menu

Menu>Save/Load Show>[Save as]

Shows may be given a two digit number with the wheel.

Show files saved in the ETC application SmartSoft can be given any valid DOS-style name and the suffix ".asc"

File naming rules

• A file or directory name can be no more than eight characters long.

• No spaces can be included in the file name, the extension or the directory name.

• Certain characters (? * , ; = + # >| [ ] / \) are illegal and cannot be used.

Quick Save Show to Card

This is done from the Save/Load Show menu

Menu>Save/Load Show>[Quick save]

6 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

If a file name has been used, it will save to this name, otherwise it will jump to the Save as menu.

Load show from Card

This is done from the Save/Load Show menu

Menu>Save/Load Show>[Load show]

Select the show with the wheel. The default show offered for loading will be the last show, or the lowest numbered recording on the card.

Introduction 7

Load Patch from Card

This is done from the Save/Load Show menu.

Menu>Save/Load Show>[Save as]

Select the show with the wheel. Confirm loading by pressing ENTER.

The default show offered for loading a patch from will be the lowest numbered recording on the card. The reason for this is that you may want to save a dummy show with just a patch as show 01.

Load User Personalities from Card

This is done from the Save/Load Show menu.

Menu>Save/Load Show>[Load user Pers.]

Select the show with the wheel. Confirm loading by pressing ENTER.

The default show offered for loading a user personality from will be the lowest numbered recording on the card. The reason for this is that you may want to save a dummy show.

Load Personalities from Card

The console has a personality library with 500 of the most common fixtures. In addition to this there are 100 personality slots that you can fill by loading personalities from the updated personality library at etcconnect.com. Personalities are loaded from the SD card. The file should be called PERSLIB.BIN. A personality loaded in this way will stay in memory until you make a deep clear or the battery runs out.

This is done from the Patch menu.

Menu>Patch>Patch Devices>[Load Personalities]

Select the slot with wheel 2. Confirm slot by pressing ENTER.

Select manufacturer with wheel 1 (or 2). Select personality with wheel 3. Confirm personality by pressing ENTER.

8 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Format SD Memory Card

SD and SDHC Memory cards are usually pre-formatted. You may need to reformat your card(s) so that they will function with the console. SmartFade supports the following formats on SD and SDHC cards:

• SD Memory cards : FAT16 only

• SDHC Memory cards : FAT16 or FAT32 only

Formatting has to be done in a PC. You will need an SD card reading device connected to your PC.

CAUTION:

Step 1: Insert the SD card into its reading device. Make sure the device is connected to

Step 2: The SD card will appear as a new drive. You should be able to find it as an icon

Formatting your SD Card will erase any information stored on the card. Be sure to remove any important files from the card before formatting.

Only standard SD Memory cards or connection to a PC via USB may be used for updating the software on a SmartFade console. Software update is not possible using an SDHC Memory card.

your Windows PC.

with some drive letter A-Z under My Computer.

Introduction 9

Step 3: Right-click on the SD card icon and select Format. This will open the formatting

window.

Step 4: In the File System field, select FAT. This will establish the card’s file system as

FAT16.

Step 5: Click Start and then complete the formatting process.

10 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Chapter 1

General Information

This chapter gives you the general information you need to get started.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Control Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

• Frontpanel Functionality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

• Philosophy of the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

• Data Structure & Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

1 General Information 9

Control Capacity

SmartFade is a simple to use but very powerful lighting console for 48 intensity channels and 24 moving light devices, specifically designed to be usable right out of the box.

Intensity channels

There are 48 intensity channels. Each intensity channel can control one or more dimmers. They are divided into two groups of 24 (to simplify numbering on the faders).

Fader mode INT A = A1-A24

Fader mode INT B = B1-B24

It is possible to control dimmers with DMX addresses 1-48 right out of the box because the default patch for the intensity channels is 1-to-1. Intensities can be controlled live, and then stored into memories, sequences or the Stack steps. All intensities interact on a Highest Takes Precedence basis (HTP). HTP and LTP control rules, page 15

Moving Lights & Devices

Up to 24 moving lights & devices such as scrollers and LED fixtures can be controlled. Each Device has a dedicated button in the Selects section. Devices need to be patched before they can be used. See “Patch Devices” on page 23.

The intensity channels for the devices are automatically mapped to, and can be controlled from the faders just like the 48 intensity channels for dimmers.

Fader mode DEVICE INT = D1-D24

Moving lights, scrollers and LEDs can be controlled live, and then stored into groups, palettes, memories and sequence or the Stack steps. There is an effect generator for movements (Shapes), color mixing (Color) and patterns (Linear).

Independents

There are two Independent buttons that can control any number of outputs each, for specials like houselights, smoke machine or followspot. See “Patch Independents” on

page 22.

DMX Outputs

There are 2 DMX outputs allowing control of up to 1024 DMX outputs.

MIDI

There is a recommended subset of the standard MIDI Show Control (MSC) which is one of the most common ways to use MIDI to synchronise show equipment. Master Memory faders can be controlled with MIDI controllers, and Program Change commands can be used for some different functions.

Memory Card

Shows can be saved to a standard SD Memory card. See “Save & Load to Memory Card”

on page 6.

10 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Frontpanel Functionality

Device Selects 1-24

These buttons are used to select Devices, palettes, groups and effects. The buttons under are used to select different modes.

LCD Menus

The two displays with wheels and buttons are used for menus and device parameters.

Faders and Bump buttons

The 24 faders can be used to control intensities, parameters and memories or sequences. Select mode with the Faders buttons above them.

Crossfader The crossfader controls the Stack of 199 steps. It can be used for fading into manually preset looks as well.

CLEAR

UNDO

This is an overview of the functionality of the frontpanel of your SmartFade ML.

General Buttons

All buttons have LED’s. Some are multi-color. They light up when active, and blink when they can be selected for the current function.

Power button

The power button is used to power up and shut down the system.See “Power-up and

Shutdown Procedures” on page 4.

Clear button

The CLEAR button is used to clear intensities and set memory faders to zero (press 2-4 times). Nothing is deleted, it only sets levels to zero. See “Clear” on page 82.

It can also be held with other buttons for some special functions, this is described in this manual where it so applies.

Undo

The UNDO button is used to reverse some specific situations. This applies only to the last performed command, and there is only one level of undo.

1 General Information 11

Faders & Bump Buttons

INTAINTBDEVICE INT

PARAM1PARAM

MEMS

INT

ONLY

SOLO

MODE

BLACK

OUT

IND1IND

There are 24 faders. They can be set to control intensities, parameters or memories and sequences. These modes are set with the FADERS buttons.

Each fader has a Bump button below it. This button will light up when there is content, and it will mimic the output of the content by varying its intensity. The button color will vary depending on the type of content.

...

Fader Playback Modes

Faders with memories will control intensities and device parameters progressively when moved. They can be set to control memory intensities only by activating the INT ONLY button.

Bump Playback Modes

There are two Bump modes when a Bump button is pressed, Pile-on and Solo. Both use the level of the BUMPS fader. The SOLO button toggles between these modes. See “Bump

Master” on page 82.

Bump buttons with memories can be set to activate device parameters without bumping intensities by activating the GO MODE button. See “Memory Bump Modes” on page 83.

Note:

For intensity faders to control light output live, three things are required:

- The Master Fader is over zero, and normally set to full (the topmost position).

- The BLACKOUT button is off (not lit)

- The NEXT button is off (not lit).

Master & Black Out Function

The Master fader proportionally limits all intensity outputs. The Blackout button instantly sends all intensities generated by the console to zero (except those from active Independents, see below). See “Master & Black Out function” on page 82.

Independents

The two Independent buttons are separate control channels (IND 1, IND 2) that can control any patched outputs in a toggle or bump mode. The Independents are not affected by the Solo, Master or Blackout functions. See “Set up Independents” on page 22.

12 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Crossfader

STACK

RECORD

SEQ

MOVE

DARK

TIME

RATE

RECORD

ALL

RECORD

SEL

COPY

DELETE

EDIT

SNAP SHOT

1234567891011121314151617181920212223

HOME

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

ALIGN

RECORD

PAL/GRP

HIGH

LIGHT

GROUP

DEVICE SELECT

CLEAR

SEL

SELECT ACTIVE

EFFECT

EDIT

EFFECT

FAN

The Crossfader consists of a Live and Next fader, plus the Crossfade transport buttons. It can be used for fading between the 199 steps of the programmable Stack, or for singlescene fading into intensities that are set blind in NEXT mode. Stack & Crossfader, page 87

The following buttons are used together with the crossfader

Sequence & Stack Functions

These buttons are used to program and edit Sequences in the Mems faders, and the Stack of the Crossfader. See “Sequences” on page 58. See “Stack” on page 60.

Record & Edit Functions

The row of buttons over the legend RECORD offer recording and editing functions described in the Program and Edit chapters of this manual.See “Program” on page 39.

See “Edit” on page 65.

The Select Section

This section of 24 buttons is used to select devices, groups, palettes and effects. It uses the buttons in the Attributes, Selection and Modify sections to do this. See “Devices” on

page 42.

Attributes functions

These buttons are used to select modes for the 24 select buttons above them, and for masking and programming. See “Device Parameters” on page 45.

.....

Selection functions

These buttons are used to select and work with Devices in the 24 select buttons above them. See “Devices” on page 42.

Modify functions

These buttons are used to select and work with Effects in the 24 select buttons above them.

See “Effects” on page 51.

1 General Information 13

LCD & Wheel Functions

SEL

SMART

SOFT

The LCD menus provide quick access to functions. Parameters in the LCDs, page 45

Right LCD - Main menu

The right LCD, with one wheel, is the main menu for entering and exiting functions.

Action Console Feedback

Activate menus

Scroll through choices Wheel (3) Choices are shown over the wheel. Use the

Menu button again to move to subsequent levels, and to accept setting changes.

Previous choice Return to previous menu level.

Exit Cancels out of the menus.

Left LCD - Sub menus

The left LCD provides control of functions in sub menus. Use the wheels to set values and the SEL and MORE buttons to toggle choices.

LCD - Preview mode

In preview mode it’s possible to see programmed intensities for MEMS faders 1-24

Action Console Feedback

Activate preview mode Bumps 1-24 start blinking. Press again to

deactivate preview mode.

Select fader ... The selected Bump stops blinking. The LCD’s

will show intensities for the currently selected fader mode A/B/D. “IFCB” indicates the type of data recorded in the current memory.

14 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Philosophy of the Console

SmartFade ML is simple to use, and still offers advanced functionality for a rig of conventional lights, moving lights, scrollers and LEDs. There is a direct button for every intensity and device parameter. These functions are accessed from the fader modes.

The back-lit buttons make it possible to run SmartFade ML without an additional screen. They offer information about content, fader mode, intensities and color. For those who would like the benefits of an external screen, though, the SmartFade ML console may be connected via USB to a PC or Macintosh computer running the free SmartSoft software application. Download SmartSoft from the ETC Web site at www.etcconnect.com

The LCDs and the three wheels provide a powerful menu-driven editing functionality, and direct control of device parameters.

HTP and LTP control rules

Intensities

Dimmer channels and Device intensity channels operate using Highest Takes Precedence (HTP). This means that if an intensity is output from more than one fader, the highest level will be the resulting output.

Intensity channels can be set to a level using the faders in INT A, INT B and DEVICE INT mode. These channel faders operate in the Live fader of the Crossfader. They can be used to take a level originating from the Crossfader either up or down. Set levels will fade out when the Crossfader is operated.

Device Parameters

All device parameters operate exclusively live, using Latest Takes Precedence (LTP). This means that they are always “stolen” by the last action.

When you control devices using the PARAM faders, you may see those parameters "jump" to a level and then "catch up" to the fader's position. This is because a fader is always at some level between 0% and Full. Because the first move of the fader is considered the last action for that parameter, you will see these jumps when the fader does not match the starting level for the parameter. To avoid this jump, use the encoders to control your devices. Encoders only indicate a direction of change, not a fixed percentage level, so you will not see the jump since there is nothing to catch up to.

A memory containing device parameters can be set to have the device parameters follow the fader progressively, or not.

Different Ways to Use SmartFade ML

These are some different approaches to using SmartFade ML.

Manual control

Levels and device parameters are set directly using faders and encoders.

Single Scene crossfading

Set up intensities blind, and then crossfade into them Live. See “Single Scene Crossfading”

on page 89.

Programming for improvised playback

Prepare groups, palettes, effects and store into memories and sequences.

Programming a Cue Stack or List for playback

Record a Stack with up to 199 steps and fade times for playback in the crossfaders.

1 General Information 15

Data Structure & Timing

The data structure is very simple. The faders offer direct control of intensities and parameters. These levels can be stored in different ways.

Groups

Device selections can be stored in 24 groups for fast recall.

Palettes

Device parameters can be stored in three types of palettes for fast recall and to be programmed as referenced sources in memories and sequences. The palette types are FOCUS, COLOR and BEAM. There are 24 of each type. The concept of creating palettes for positions, colors and beam settings, and referencing them into memories instead of storing the actual parameters is to save time. Its very fast to select four devices and say “go to centre stage (Focus Palette 2) in red (Color Palette 1). If anything changes in your show you will save time again, by editing the palettes instead of editing all memories and steps that they are stored in. If they are changed they will update themselves where they have been used throughout a show, for example when the focus palette for a piece of scenery is moved, or when a certain red color palette has been changed into a deeper red. There is a Palette default time.

Effects

Effects are a very fast way to create interesting patterns and movements with devices. There are 11 Shape effects for pan/tilt movements in devices, 11 Linear effects for intensities or any single device parameter and 11 Color effects for color mixing devices. The effects are referenced as sources just like palettes. Offset is stored in the memory, but not Depth and Speed. Those are stored in the effect.

Memories

Memories are created to store intensities, device parameters and references to palettes and effects to a fader. These memories can be played back from the faders, and they can be stored as steps in sequences or the Stack. There are 24 fader memories in 12 fader pages = 288 Memories in total. Each memory can have an FCB time to control the transition of device parameters.

Snapshots

The complete output, including intensities and parameters, can be instantly stored with a Snapshot function. Up to 10 such Snapshots can be buffered. They can be stored as memories at a later point.

Sequences

The fastest way to create a loop of memories is to record a sequence. A sequence is a list of 24 steps that can be played back manually, looped or as a OneShot from the faders. Each step can be a single intensity channel or a memory. Each step can have an Up, Down and Wait time. There are general timing override functions like Rate, Fade and BPM as well.

Stack

The Stack is theatre style list of 199 steps that can be played back manually or as a OneShot from the Crossfader. It is intended as a main cue list for a show. Each step can be a single intensity channel, a memory or a unique Stack memory state called a cue. Each step can have an Up, Down and Wait time. There are general timing override functions like Rate and Fade override as well.

16 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Chapter 2

Setup

The default setup of SmartFade ML allows you to run 48 dimmer channels straight out of the box. Moving lights, scrollers and LEDs always have to be patched, since they require a specific personality corresponding to each type. There are other user Settings for displays and language. These are described in this chapter.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• DMX Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

• Clear/Set Patch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

• Patch Dimmers (INT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

• Patch Independents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

• Patch Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

• Console Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

• MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

• Custom Moving Light Personalities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

2 Setup 17

DMX Output

DMX (Digital MultipleX) is a worldwide standard (or protocol) that your SmartFade ML uses to communicate with lighting equipment. It is a digital protocol that basically defines a state of “on”, “off” or a percentage of “on”. DMX can be used to control dimmers, moving lights, fog machines, LEDs, scrollers, media servers or any number of other DMX devices.

DMX is restricted to a total of 512 (output) channels available in one DMX line (referred to as a universe). Your SmartFade ML has two such universes, allowing control of up to 1024 outputs (2x512).

The DMX outputs are patched to console channels for intensities or devices in SmartFade ML. There are 48 intensity channels, 24 device channels and 2 independent channels. The D1-24 channels can be patched directly to dimmers in the patch by channel/dimmer menus as well. Each console channel can be patched to multiple outputs. The default is set 1:1.

INT A1-A24, , INT B1-B24, DEVICE INT D1-D24, IND 1, IND 2

A moving light device can have up to 48 different parameters, each parameter requiring one of the 1024 outputs. This depends on the type of moving light, and is automatically set by patching the appropriate personality.

DMX Out Speed

In rare cases some DMX devices may have trouble reading DMX at the full standard speed supplied by SmartFade ML. This is often seen as flicker in your lighting devices. You can slow down the DMX out speed to try to alleviate such communications errors with other manufacturer’s equipment. The default is set to “Max”.

Menu>Setup>DMX Out>[Max]..[Slow]..[Medium]..[Fast]

18 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Clear/Set Patch

Clear Intensity Patch

The intensity patch for INT A and INT B is cleared from the Patch Menu.

Menu>Patch>Patch Set/Clear>[Clear INT Patch]

Press OK to confirm.

Set Intensity Patch 1:1

The intensity patch for INT A and INT B is set 1:1 from the Patch Menu.

Menu>Patch>Patch Set/Clear>[Set INT Patch 1:1?]

Press OK to confirm.

Note:

The Device Intensity channels can be used to patch 24 more conventional lights if no Devices are being used. See “Patch by Channel” on page 21.

Clear Device Patch

Devices can be unpatched “all” or one by one in the Patch Menu.

Menu>Patch>Patch Set/Clear>[Clear Device]

Select All or 1-24 with wheel, and press OK to confirm.

2 Setup 19

Patch Dimmers (INT)

SEL

There are 48 intensity channels that can be patched to two DMX universes (1024 outputs). They are divided into two groups of 24 - fader mode INT A and INT B.

The Default Patch

SmartFade ML defaults to a “1 to 1” patch mode in DMX universe 1 for dimmers.

INT A = DMX1-24 INT B = DMX 25-48

This is the simplest version of a patch and is the most common, as it is easy to remember and provides immediate control with all of your available channels. It is also possible to create a custom patch by assigning any DMX output(s) to any control channel. Setting the patch is simple and is performed on the LCD menu.

Patch Live or Blind

Patching in Live will set the selected DMX output to full , and set all other dimmers to zero so you can see what’s connected to that dimmer. Patching in Blind will not affect current DMX values until changes in the patch override any active channels.

Note:

A dimmer can only be patched to one control channel at a time. If you patch a dimmer and then later patch the same dimmer to a different channel, the dimmer will be automatically unpatched from its original channel and assigned to the new channel.

Patch by Dimmer

Patching by dimmer is probably the easiest way to patch a rig that is unknown to you. In Live mode you can turn on each output one by one, select an intensity channel and patch it.

Step 1: Open the Patch:

Menu>Patch>[Patch by dimmer]

Step 2: Choose between Live and Blind mode using encoder wheel 3.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 3: All patching is done in the left LCD.

Menu choice Console Feedback

DMX Wheel 1 Select a DMX output. If you are patching Live

it will be set to full instantly.

CH. Wheel 2 Select a channel to patch or unpatch to the

selected DMX output.

<[U1] Toggles the DMX universe between 1 and 2.

[UNPATCH] Press to patch or unpatch the currently

selected channel to the currently selected DMX output and universe.

20 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Patch by Channel

SEL

Patching by channel is just as simple as patching by dimmer. The only difference is that the starting point is the intensity channel. By doing it Live you can check what is patched to each intensity channel, and then patch or unpatch more dimmer outputs to this channel.

Step 1: Open the Patch:

Menu>Patch>[Patch by channel]

Step 2: Choose between Live and Blind mode using encoder wheel 3.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 3: Patching is done in the left LCD. The right LCD shows all dimmer outputs

patched to the currently selected channel - use encoder wheel 3 to scroll if there are more than three dimmer outputs patched to the same intensity channel.

Menu choice Console Feedback

CH. Wheel 1 Select a channel to patch or unpatch. The

corresponding DMX output will be selected immediately when the wheel is moved. D1D24 can be selected as well. See Note.

Note:

DMX Wheel 2 Select a DMX output to patch to the selected

channel. If it is already patched there is an “*” before the number as in the image above.

[U1]> Toggles the DMX universe between 1 and 2.

[UNPATCH] Press to patch or unpatch the currently

selected channel to the currently selected DMX output and universe.

You can patch any of the D1-24 intensity channels to conventional dimmers. This is useful if you need more than 48 intensity channels, or if you are using scrollers or other accessories on conventional lights.

2 Setup 21

Patch Independents

Independent buttons IND 1 and IND 2 provide two outputs separated from all other controls. They are intended to operate devices such as smoke machines, tab tracks, cue lights, etc.

• SOLO does not affect these outputs.

• The state or result of the 2 independent outputs is not recordable.

The Default Patch

SmartFade ML defaults to the last outputs in DMX universe 1 for the independents.

IND 1 = DMX 511 IND 2 = DMX 512

This is easy to remember and provides immediate control with two outputs. It is also possible to create a custom patch by assigning any DMX outputs to the independents. This is done in the Patch. They are indicated in the patch as channels i1 and i2. See “Patch by

Dimmer” on page 20. See “Patch by Channel” on page 21.

Set up Independents

The basic behaviour of the buttons and faders are set up in the Independents menu.

Menu>[Independents]

Button behavior

Menu choice Console Feedback

[Button mode] Wheels 1 & 2

[Master mode] Wheels 1 & 2

Sets if BLACKOUT and MASTER fader will affect or not.

[Set Level] Wheels 1 & 2

22 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Patch Devices

There are 24 device channels that can be patched to two DMX universes (1024 outputs). Each device can have a DMX footprint of up to 48 outputs.

There is no default patch since every moving light or DMX device requires a specific prebuilt patching personality (see below).

We recommend that you patch all your devices at the same time, to avoid problems with overlapping addresses. Many fixtures offer different modes of operation which can change the amount and order of DMX addresses the fixture uses. You must know the mode of the fixture before patching it to ensure reliable and predictable operation. Consult the user manual of your fixtures and devices before patching them if you are unsure which mode to use.

Patching devices is simple and is performed in the LCD menu.

Device Personalities

The console contains about 500 standard device personalities. A separate file that you can download from www.etcconnect.com called PERSLIB.BIN may be placed on an SD card and browsed on the console, or in the simulator in SmartSoft, and this contains over 3000 more personalities.

New personalities will be distributed in this file allowing SmartFade ML to support an unlimited number of devices. You may load up to 100 personalities from the file into the console. See “Load Personalities from Card” on page 8.

Patch Multiple Devices

There is a patch wizard that makes it really easy to patch one or more devices.

Step 1: Open the Patch Wizard:

Menu>Patch>Patch Devices>[Patch Wizard]

Step 2: Select MAKE and MODEL for the device you wish to patch.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 3: Now use the wheels from left to right to select starting device, DMX address and

number of devices. Press MORE to toggle between DMX universe 1/2.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: You will get a confirmation request.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 5: Done. Exit the menus or continue patching from Step 2.

2 Setup 23

Test the Device

As devices are patched, they will be sent to their default or "Home" position. For moving lights, this is usually a centered or 50/50 position for pan and tilt, and all other parameters set to levels corresponding to an open white beam of light. Once patched you can test that the fixtures are controllable.

Press DEVICE SEL. The device button (1-24) corresponding to the each patched device shall light up dimly. Press one so it becomes bright (selected). Now select PARAM 1 for the faders and try Intensity (1), Pan (2) and Tilt (3). See “Device Parameters” on page 45.

Check Device Patch

A quick way to verify what device is patched to Device Selects 1-24 is to hold the Device Select button for more than 1 second. The displays will then show the following information.

Note:

In a color scroller or other conventional fixture accessory the light source is controlled by a conventional dimmer. This has to be patched in the channel or dimmer patch separately to a device intensity channel D1-D24.

See “Patch by Channel” on page 21. See “Patch by Dimmer” on page 20.

Device Commands

Device commands like Lamp On, Lamp Off and Reset are done from the Device menu. The currently selected Devices are affected. See “Select Devices” on page 43.

Menu>Devices>Device Commands>[Lamp On]..[Lamp Off]..[Reset]

View/Modify Device Patch

To check DMX addresses and modify the patch of single devices, open the View/Modify Patch menu:

Menu>Patch>Patch Devices>[View/Modify Patch]

These are the options. NOTHING is changed unless (MENU) is pressed and confirmed.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Select a device Wheel 1 As the device number is changed, the rest of

the settings will update to reflect each device.

Universe 1 or 2 Toggles the DMX address between DMX uni-

verse 1 and 2.

DMX address Wheel 2 Change DMX address for the device.

24 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Device Settings

You can invert and/or swap pan and tilt functions individually for every device. This is usually only used when they are not rigged in the same way - to make pan and tilt have the same result on stage.

These functions are available from the Device Menu. Go to Menu>Devices>

Menu choice Console Feedback

[Invert Pan] Wheel 2 selects device

[Invert Tilt] Wheel 2 selects device

[Swap Pan/Tilt] Wheel 2 selects device

(DEV).

SEL toggles on/off.

(DEV).

SEL toggles on/off.

(DEV).

SEL toggles on/off.

2 Setup 25

Console Setup

Erase Functions

Erasing data is done from the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>[Erase]

The following kind of data can be erased:

• All show data

•Memories

• Sequences

•Stack

•Palettes

Default Times

Default times can be set for

• Fades in Sequences and Stack. See “Default Fade Times” on page 74.

• Move Dark Time.

• Palette Time.

Crossfade Faders

The direction in which the Crossfade faders advance to the next step in STACK mode is set in the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>[Crossfade faders]

There are two choices of behavior

• Upwards only, meaning that you will need to pull the faders back to the bottom before fading "up" into the next cue

• Both ways, meaning that each time you move the faders from bottom-to-top or top-tobottom you will fade into the next cue in the stack.

26 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Memory Rubberband

When On, device parameters (non intensity channels) will follow the fader up and back. When Off, the parameters will move to their new positions as you take up a fader and then remain there when the fader is taken down. This is set in the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>[Memory Rubberband]

DMX Out

See “DMX Out Speed” on page 18.

MIDI Settings

See “MIDI Settings” on page 27.

Language

You can choose language for the menus from the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>Language>[English]

Current choices are

• English

• Français

• Deutsch

• Español

• Italiano

The console will continue to boot with the last selected language until it is changed.

Displays

Display settings are done from the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>[Displays]

Menu choice Console Feedback

BUTTON Wheel 1 Button intensities

SCREEN Wheel 2 LCD intensities

CONTRAST Wheel 3 LCD Contrast

2 Setup 27

Software Version

You can verify what software version your console is running in the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>[Software version]

LED Calibration

The LEDs in the select buttons are used to show color mixing information for palettes. Since LEDs are not always equal, there may be a need to calibrate the white balance or overall brightness.

You can calibrate the LED buttons either individually or together. This is done from the LED Calibration menu.

Menu>Setup>LED Calibration>[Calibrate]

As soon as you enter calibration mode they are all set to white.

Press a specific select button to change its calibration. The button number will be indicated on the right display (Devi #). If you press the same device button again, you will return to the global calibration that will scale all the values together (Devi All).

Default global RGB calibration values are set to 220, 220, 220.

Save LED Calibration

You can save the LED calibration to the SD card to survive a software upgrade of the console. This is done from the LED Calibration menu.

Menu>Setup>LED Calibration>[Save Calibration]

Load LED Calibration

You can load a LED calibration from the SD card to restore it after a software upgrade. This is done from the LED Calibration menu.

Menu>Setup>LED Calibration>[Load Calibration]

28 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

MIDI Setup

SmartFade ML includes MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) facilities to provide three primary functions.

• Show control systems: SmartFade ML may be set to respond to MIDI data from a time-based sequencer or show control system. This can be MSC or functions from the Basic MIDI implementation of SmartFade ML. The default setting is OFF.

• Synchronising playback of two SmartFade consoles: MIDI may be used to connect any two SmartFade consoles together, including SmartFade and SmartFade ML. The Memory faders, bumps and the playback functions of the Stack plus Grand Master and Blackout can be synchronised. The default setting is ON.

• Sending MIDI controller data: There is a controller patch where any channel in SmartFade ML can be set to send any MIDI controller 1-127 to control external devices.

For show control and synchronising playback it is normally enough to make a MIDI connection and start using without having to set up anything.

Note:

You must decide if you want to use either MIDI (ch) or MSC to link consoles, and turn ON the one you want and turn OFF the one you don’t. Leaving both functions on will cause double stepping and some other strange behaviors.

MIDI Show Control

MSC is a show control standard within MIDI that usually is used when different devices are linked in a show control setup. SmartFade ML supports a basic set of Midi Show Control (MSC) commands. They are both sent and received at all times - regardless of the settings for MIDI channel.

You can activate and set the MSC Device ID from the MIDI menu.

Menu>Setup>MIDI>[MSC Device ID]

Use the wheel 1 to select Device ID (0-126 or All) and press SEL to toggle On/Off.

Midi Show Control Commands

•Go

•Stop

• Resume

2 Setup 29

Synchronising Two SmartFades

To synchronise playback of two SmartFade consoles, just connect MIDI OUT from console A to MIDI IN on console B. Now the main playback functions are “mirrored” from console A to console B.

Functions

• GO, PAUSE and STOP will be synchronised*.

• In MEM mode the faders and bumps will be synchronised*

• SOLO mode will be synchronised for MEM bumps*

• Grand Master, Blackout and Bumps Master will be synchronised*

* These functions are transmitted from within the Basic MIDI implementation on the currently set MIDI channel. MIDI Channel, page 31, Basic MIDI Implementation, page 30.

Basic MIDI Implementation

A set of controllers and buttons can be sent and received. This can be used both for Show Control and to Synchronise two SmartFade ML consoles.

Controllers

• 1-24 = Master 1-24 (only in MEM mode)

• 124 = Live fader

• 125 = Next fader

• 126 = Bump Master

• 127 = Grand Master

Program Change

• 0 = Reset the Stack to step 0

• 1-99 = GOTO step 1-99 in the Stack

• 100-111 = Memory pages 1-12

• 124 = Pause

• 125 = Start (GO)

• 126 = B.O. not active

• 127 = B.O. active

Note on/off

• 0-47 = MEM bumps 1-48 (only in MEM mode)

30 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

MIDI Channel

The Basic and Advanced MIDI functions apart from MSC are sent and received on the same MIDI channel. This is set in the MIDI menu.

Menu>Setup>MIDI>[Midi Channel]

Use the wheel 1 to select MIDI channel 1-16 and press SEL to toggle On/Off.

Sending MIDI Controllers

This function is designed to allow any control channel in SmartFade ML to control an external device using any MIDI controller 1-127. This is set up in the Controller Patch.

Menu>Setup>MIDI>[Controller Patch]

Use the wheel 1 to select SmartFade ML control channel 1-72, then use wheel 2 to select MIDI controller 1-127.

Once this is set up the output of this channel will also be transmitted on the MIDI controller assigned in the Controller Patch.

Note:

When a MIDI controller is patched to a channel, the default MIDI implementation function of this controller is disabled.

2 Setup 31

Custom Moving Light Personalities

SmartFade ML includes a large number of moving light personalities. If, for any reason they do not meet your needs or you have a device that isn’t included, it is also possible to build up to 20 user personalities that are stored with the show. The personalities can be built online, and this is probably the best way to ensure that they are working properly with the intended device. They are patched from the Patch Wizard as any other personality, and appear before the factory personalities. If they need to be edited after being patched - they must be repatched for the changes to be updated.

Open the Personality Editor

Step 1: Select the menu Patch Personalities

Menu>Patch>Patch Devices> [User Personalities]

Use MORE to select Universe (U1/U2)

Use the encoder 2 to set the DMX address for the connected device to be able to test the personality live.

Use the right wheel to select which personality to edit/create (1-20).

Step 2: Press (MENU) to confirm. You will have a choice of editing an existing

personality or Erase and make a new one. Make your selection with encoder 3.

Step 3: Press (MENU) to confirm. This is the programming interface for creating a

personality.

Step 4: You are ready to edit/create the selected personality. There are two methods -

live (with faders) and blind (in the display only). The easiest method is live with the device connected.

32 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Edit a Personality Live

This is best done with the device connected, since all parameters can be checked live as they are assigned.

Note:

It is recommended to assign first the intensity and then the shutter parameters in order to see some light output from the device so that the remaining parameters may be more easily identified.

Some types of moving light require a particular value to be set on a channel in order to either turn them on, reset them or strike an arc light. This must be determined by studying the manufacturer’s data sheet. SmartFade ML cannot automatically detect such settings.

Step 1: Open the personality editor as described prior to this.

Step 1: Now the faders 1-24 in INT A and INT B are controlling the first 48 control

channels of the device directly. Fader 1 = control channel 1 etc. The following way of working is very fast and direct.

Step 2: Select INT A, move fader 1, and set the first control channel of the device to an

appropriate HOME value (check the documentation of the device to find out this value).

Step 3: Now press the bump of a fader in PARAM 1 or PARAM 2 equivalent to this

parameter to assign it. For example, if it is intensity, press bump 1. If it is Strobe/ Shutter press bump 10.

Step 4: Select INT A again and move fader 2 - this will output control channel 2 AND set

the OFFSET in the left display to 2.

Step 5: Repeat the procedure in step 3 - step 4 until finished.

Special - Pan/Tilt 16 bit

Since Pan and Tilt in 16 bit mode requires two channels: Coarse and Fine - and there is only one Pan or Tilt bump, it is important that you assign them in a specific order.

Step 1: Move the fader corresponding to Coarse and press PAN.

Step 2: Then move the fader corresponding to Fine and press PAN again. This will

assign PanFine.

Note:

It is possible to toggle between Coarse and Fine for a selected OFFSET by pressing PAN.

2 Setup 33

Special - Color Mix CMY, RGB & RAGB

Since SmartFade ML simplifies color mixing into Hue and Saturation - and there can be parameters such as CMY, RGB or RAGB, it is important that you assign them in a specific order.

Step 1: Choose between CMY, RGB or RAGB by pressing MORE.

Step 2: Move the fader corresponding to Cyan and press HUE.

Step 3: Move the fader corresponding to Magenta and press HUE again.

Step 4: Move the fader corresponding to Yellow and press HUE again.

Note:

It is possible to toggle CMY, RGB, RAGB for a selected OFFSET by pressing HUE.

Edit a Personality Blind

Editing blind is a way of creating a personality in a way similar to most editors, by selecting the offset and choosing a parameter. It is not as direct and fast as using the faders, but may be more comfortable for some operators, especially if there is no device connected.

Step 1: Open the personality editor as described prior to this.

Step 2: Select a channel offset with encoder 1.

Step 3: Press a bump on the PARAM 1 or PARAM 2 pages to assign the parameter and

its HOME position value, which is taken from the position of the parameter fader

- use encoder 2 to change it. The assigned parameter is displayed in the right display.

Step 4: Select the next channel offset with encoder 1, and repeat the procedure until

done.

Note:

Pan/Tilt and color mixing have a special patching procedure described in the examples below.

Step 5: When you are finished editing the personality, exit the menu system with the <

key.

Step 6: Now go to the regular Patch Device > Patch Wizard menu. The user personality

is the first in the list before the in-built personalities starting with the letter A. Remember that once it is patched it can no longer be edited. To change the personality edit it as described above and re-patch.

34 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Example (blind) - Intensity

Step 1: Press bump button 1 in parameter page PARAM 1.

The parameter fader was as zero% so the HOME value is zero. In the right display you can see that OFFSET 1 is Assigned to: Intensity.

Step 2: You can change this to another parameter by pressing a different bump button,

or you can select a new offset and assign a parameter to that.

Note:

You can assign any parameter in the same way as intensity. Color mixing and pan/tilt are slightly different. See below.

Example (blind) - Color Mix

SmartFade ML provides a simplified way to operate colour mixing devices by means of just two faders; Hue and Sat(uration). Internally the colour values are handled and stored as either CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) or RGB (Red, Green, Blue).

Typically moving lights with filters are CMY mixers and LED luminaires with discrete LEDs are RGB mixers. There are some exceptions so it is recommended to study the manufacturer’s data to decide which method to use for the light in question.

Step 1: Select the color mixing type; CMY or RGB with the MORE button.

Step 2: Select the first offset channel with encoder 1.

Step 3: Use the HUE parameter (bump button 4) to toggle to the first correct color mixing

parameter. If the color mixing type is set to CMY, bump 4 will toggle through Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. The first is probably Cyan, so leave it on this.

Step 4: Select the next offset channel (3) with encoder 1 and repeat the procedure. If the

last selected parameter was Cyan, the next will automatically be Magenta.

Step 5: Select the next offset channel (4) with encoder 1 and repeat the procedure. If the

last selected parameter was Magenta, the next will automatically be Yellow.

Step 6: Done.

2 Setup 35

Example (Blind) - Pan/Tilt 16 Bit

Some devices offer 16 bit resolution for Pan and Tilt. This is controlled by using one channel for Pan Coarse, and a second for Pan Fine (and the same for Tilt Coarse/Fine).The PAN and TILT bumps will toggle the assigned parameter between Coarse and Fine.

Step 1: Select the first offset channel with encoder 1.

Step 2: Use the PAN parameter (bump button 2) to toggle to pan Coarse.

Note:

It is recommended to assign a HOME level of 128 to Pan and Tilt.

Step 3: Select the next offset channel with encoder 1 and repeat the procedure. This time

Pan Fine will be selected.

Step 4: Repeat the procedure with Tilt.

36 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Special - Fade With Intensity

When you have assigned your parameters in live or blind, press (MENU) to go from the Personality Editor to the “Fade with intensity” or “Invert Parameter” configuration.

Step 1: Use wheel 3 to select “Fade With Intensity”.

Step 2: Press (MENU) to activate. Now use the bump buttons to toggle “Fade With

Intensity” mode for each parameter fader in Param 1 and Param 2. The bump button will light up when the FWI mode is active.

Special - Invert Parameter

When you have assigned your parameters in live or blind, press (MENU) to go from the Personality Editor to the “Fade with intensity” or “Invert Parameter” configuration.

Step 1: Use wheel 3 to select “Invert Parameter”.

Step 2: Press (MENU) to activate. Now use the bump buttons to toggle “Fade With

Intensity” mode for each parameter fader in Param 1 and Param 2. The bump button will light up when the FWI mode is active.

2 Setup 37

38 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Chapter 3

Program

Once you have set up your console to control the dimmers and devices in your rig, you can start programming.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Intensity Channels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

• Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

• Effects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

• Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

• Snapshots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

• Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

• Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

3 Program 39

Intensity Channels

INTAINTBDEVICE INT

Intensities for dimmers and devices are set with the faders. Simply press one of the intensity mode buttons and then use the faders to set intensities. The currently selected button is lit in green.

Intensities are piled-on to the output of the console in an HTP manner (Highest Takes Precedence). Intensities may be sourced by a channel fader, a memory fader or the Stack.They are limited by the Master fader and Black out button.

Intensity mimic

The bump button under each fader will light up proportionally to the actual intensity of the corresponding outputs, regardless of the position of the fader. It will do so even if there are no outputs patched to the fader.

The left LCD will show the current output of the selected fader mode, with bar graphs.

Bumping channels

The bump buttons will bump instantly to the level of the BUMP fader. If SOLO mode is active the other intensity channels will be temporarily muted.

Matching values

Since the faders are used for several functions, there will be situations where the physical position of the fader does not match the output of the fader. When you move an unmatched fader, the bump button will blink until the actual level is matched by that of the fader.

Set all intensities to zero

Use the CLEAR button to selectively turn lights off. Press CLEAR four times in rapid succession to get a blackout on stage. See “Clear” on page 82.

Note:

Device intensities can also be set with the Intensity Parameter or wheel 3 in the right LCD.

See “Parameters in the LCDs” on page 45.

Live or Next Mode

Intensities can be set Live or blind (NEXT mode).

Live mode

Normally Intensities are set directly in the Live fader of the Crossfader. The result of this fader is piled on to the output of the other faders. If a crossfade is run manually or with the Go button - the levels will fade to zero, or to the next step in the Stack of the Crossfader.

Next mode

When NEXT mode is activated, all faders will set intensities in the Next fader of the Crossfader - which means that these levels will be output after the next crossfade. This allows you to preset levels manually and fade into them like in a traditional single-scene manual lighting console. See “Single Scene Crossfading” on page 89.

40 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Adjust Channel Range

SEL

It’s possible to select any channel range and adjust proportionally in the Channel menu.

Menu>Channels>[Adjust Channel Range]

Menu choice Console Feedback

START Wheel 1 Select first channel in range

END Wheel 2 Select last channel in range

[All] Selects all channels as channel range.

Adjust LEVEL Wheel 3 Adjust the levels proportionally

Set Channel Range

It’s possible to select any channel range and set levels in the Channel menu.

Menu>Channels>[Set Channel Range]

Menu choice Console Feedback

START Wheel 1 Select first channel in range

END Wheel 2 Select last channel in range

[All] Selects all channels as channel range.

Set LEVEL Wheel 3 As soon as the wheel is moved, all channels

in the range will instantly be set to this level.

3 Program 41

Devices

DEVICE

INT

PARAM1PARAM

SmartFade ML is specially designed to handle devices, like moving lights, in a very simple and straightforward way.

Device intensities and parameters can be set manually with the faders and/or with the LCD parameter menus. See “Intensity Channels” on page 40.

Working with devices like moving lights, scrollers and LEDs often requires more preparation than dimmers. Both programming and playback will be easier if you prepare Palettes and Groups for quickly selecting and adjusting devices. See “Palettes” on

page 16. See “Groups” on page 16.

Device Times

There are two default time settings that will affect how devices are controlled. See “Default

Device Times” on page 68.

Know your device

If you are going to control a device, make sure you know how it works. Read the manual for the device, and check what operating mode it is set to work in. Make sure this operating mode corresponds to the personality in the Device Patch of SmartFade ML. See “Patch

Devices” on page 23.

42 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Select Devices

DEVICE SELECT

CLEAR

SEL

CLEAR

SEL

DEVICE

SEL

SELECT ACTIVE

Before you can do anything with a device it has to be selected. This is done with the SELECTION buttons and the 24 Device / Palette Select buttons.

These are the available select functions

Function Console Feedback

Activate Device Select mode

This button lights up, and so do the select but-

tons for all patched devices. Bright are selected, dimmed are not.

Select or deselect a device ... The buttons toggle selection of each device.

Hold one and press another to select a range. Press twice fast to deselect all other devices.

Clear current selection Clears all selected devices.

Get previous selection and By holding CLEAR SEL and pressing

DEVICE SELECT the previous selection is restored.

Select all active Every device with an intensity above zero is

selected.

Select all active from a memory

and ... By holding SELECT ACTIVE and pressing a

bump button for a memory, only the devices in that memory are selected.

3 Program 43

Device Groups

RECORD

PAL/GRP

GROUP

A quick way to recall a selection of devices is to store it as a group. There are 24 groups.

Record groups

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate recording All buttons that can record in this mode will

3. Select groups GROUP lights up. All 24 select buttons will

4. Record group ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the

Recall recorded groups

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate groups GROUP lights up. All select buttons with a

2. Select group ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the

Select mode has to be active).

blink (press CLEAR to exit).

blink at full. Already recorded ones will blink dimmed.

group is stored to that button. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

recorded group light up at full in green.

group is selected. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

44 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Device Parameters

PARAM1PARAM

SEL

A device in SmartFade ML can have up to 48 parameters such as pan, tilt, gobo etc. These parameters are automatically mapped to the controls by the personality in the device patch. Parameters for the selected devices are always moved to the last issued value in an LTP manner (Latest Takes Precedence). They are not affected by the Master Fader or Blackout button.

Parameters in the Faders

When a device is selected all its parameters are mapped into two PARAM fader pages.

As soon as one of these fader pages is activated (button is lit) the bump button will light up under the fader of any parameter that is available in the currently selected devices.

The parameter of each fader is printed on the console frontpanel, under the fader.

PARAM 1 parameters are printed below the buttons and PARAM 2 above. For example, fader 1 in PARAM 1 = Intensity.

When a fader is moved, that parameter will jump to the value of the fader (which may be unwanted behavior). To adjust parameters relative to their current value, use the encoder wheels and LCDs.

Bump buttons

The bump buttons will toggle a parameter between zero and full when PARAM 1 or 2 are held.

Parameters in the LCDs

As soon as a device is selected, both LCD’s provide parameter control with the encoder wheels. This is necessary if you want to adjust parameters relative to their current position.

The left LCD shows the current parameter type in the top middle (Focus in this example).

The top right corner of the right LCD shows the number of this menu, and underneath is the number of available sub-menus. In this example Coarse is the current sub-menu, and it’s sub-menu number 1 out of 2 (1/2).

Parameters that do not exist in the currently selected device(s) are displayed [---].

Navigation buttons

Action Console Feedback

Next parameter menu The next parameter menu is selected and dis-

played top/mid in the left LCD.

Sub-menus Sub-menus are displayed bottom/mid in the

left LCD, and the button lights up.

Note:

To step back to the previous parameter menu, hold MORE and press SEL.

3 Program 45

Color Control

As soon as a device with color parameters is selected you can control these parameters from the parameter faders and from the LCD parameter control functions.

Device types supported include: RGB, CMY, RGBA, RAGCB (Prism Reveal), ROAGI (Selador Fire), RGCBI, (Selador Ice), ROAGCBI (Selador x7). User personalities may be made with RGB, RGBA or CMY mixing

The parameter faders provide control of Hue, Saturation, Color wheel 1 and 2 plus MODIFY and Color FX.

The LCD’s provide parameter control with the encoder wheels which is necessary when you want to adjust parameters relative to their current position.

Press SEL until the display shows the first color parameters.

Wheel 1 controls hue (0-100%) and wheel 2 a fine trimming value of the hue value.

Wheel 3 controls saturation (0-100%).

Press MORE to access the native parameters of the selected device.

Parameters that do not exist in the currently selected device(s) are displayed [---]. If there are different parameters on the same wheel, a * character is added to indicate this.

46 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Device Palettes

RECORD

PAL/GRP

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

To make programming of devices simple, it is possible to store parameters into references, called palettes. Palettes can be recalled with one button press. You can store and recall three types of parameter palettes. See “Palettes” on page 16.

• Focus palettes 1-24 = position information

• Color palettes 1-24 = color information

• Beam palettes 1-24 = beam information (everything except color and position)

These parameter types are also used for grouping parameters when using functions like HOME and ALIGN.

Record Palettes

Palettes store data for selected devices only. So, to build a color palette to set all of your color scrollers to the same frame, select all the scroller devices, set them all to the same color frame, then record the color palette. Once recorded, you can use the palette to apply that frame to any individually selected devices as long as those devices were included when the palette was recorded.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate recording All buttons that can record in this mode will

Select mode has to be active).

blink (press CLEAR to exit).

Note:

3. Select palette type This button lights up. All 24 select buttons will blink at full. Already recorded ones will blink dimmed.

4. Mask parameters

(optional)

You can hold FOCUS, COLOR or BEAM to

see what parameters will be included. While holding any of these keys you may press any bump button in Param1 or Param2 to toggle a mask for that parameter. Masked parameters will have low intensity.

5. Record palette ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the palette is stored to that button. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

For devices with a color mixing system color palettes 1-24 are auto-generated. The select buttons will reflect the color of the palette in COLOR and Device Select modes.

3 Program 47

Recall Recorded Palettes

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

HOME

FOCUS

HOME

COLOR

HOME

BEAM

HOME

ALIGN

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate a palette mode This button lights up. All select buttons with a

3. Select palette ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the pal-

*You can also hold FOCUS, COLOR or BEAM and select Palettes continuously without exiting the Palette mode.

General Device Functions

Home Parameters

Home is a very useful function for returning device parameters to their default levels. The Home values are defined in the pre-built personalities of each device. This value sets all or specific parameters to a “neutral” value like open white, open beam, straight down. All Home functions apply to the currently selected Device(s) and do not affect intensities.

Action Console Feedback

Home all parameters (within 1 sec.) All parameters are homed for selected

Select mode has to be active).

recorded palette light up at full *

ette is activated. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

devices.

Home Focus parameters and All Focus parameters are homed for selected

devices

Home Color parameters and All Color parameters are homed for selected

devices

Home Beam parameters and All Beam parameters are homed for selected

devices

Home any parameter and ... Hold HOME and press any parameter bump

button to home this for the selected devices

Align Parameters

You can align any parameter(s) from one device to other devices. This is useful for example if you have created a color mix in one device and you want to reuse it in other devices of the same kind.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select target devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device Select mode has to be active).

2. Activate Align mode This button lights up, and so do FOCUS, COLOR and BEAM.

3. Select Parameter type Select which parameter type you wish to align.

4. Select source device ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the target devices are aligned to the selected parameter type of this device. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

48 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Fan Parameters

FAN

The Fan function makes it possible to quickly spread a range of values across the selected devices on a specific parameter.

• There are different fan shapes (linear, V, U and S).

• The center point defaults to the device in the middle of the current selection, but you can change it in the Fan menu.

• FAN lights up dimmed, and can be used as soon as more than one device is selected.

• There is a quick Fan mode, and a Fan menu mode.

Fan Mode

Quick fan mode is a very fast way to fan any parameter for the selected devices using the LCD parameter controls.

Hold the FAN button and turn the wheel for any parameter. The fan is applied to the selected devices for this parameter. The last used settings for Fan will be used.

Fan Menu Mode

Action Console Feedback

1. Select target devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device Select mode has to be active).

2. Activate Fan mode This button lights up. The faders are set to Parameters and the bump buttons will blink.

Note:

3. Select parameter ... The selected parameter bump button will blink at full. You can change to another parameter at any time. Fan controls are presented in the LCDs.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Style Wheel 1 Select style

Center Wheel 2 Select center point for the fan action

Size Wheel 3 Adjust the width (size) of the fan function

Center: The order in which the devices are initially selected is used to calculate the center device.

Select 1,2,3 and center device = 2 Select 3,1,2 and center device = 1

In an even numbered list, the centerpoint is in the middle of the two most center devices. In other words, in this case the center is not "a device", it's between devices.

3 Program 49

Highlight Mode

HIGH

LIGHT

1241

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

Highlight is a mode designed for when you are adjusting a group of devices one by one. It will bring the selected devices to a dimmed value and allow you to select one at a time at full. All devices that are not selected are set temporarily to zero and cannot be selected.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device Select mode has to be active).

2. Activate Highlight mode This button lights up.

3. Select a device within

the first selection

... This button lights up, and the device is set to

full. The other devices are set to zero. Adjust parameters, and select the next device. Only one device can be selected at a time. Press HIGHLIGHT to exit the mode.

Fetch Parameters from a Memory

If you want to copy the parameters of a device from a specific memory to reuse a color, position or beam setting, use Fetch.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device Select mode has to be active).

2. Activate a palette mode This button lights up. All select buttons with a recorded palette light up at full

3. Select any memory

bump

... As soon as a select button is pressed, the

parameters for the selected type are copied from this memory. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

50 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Effects

EFFECT

There is a pre-defined library of 33 effects using wave-forms to generate the result. These effects are divided into three categories

• Shape (pan/tilt only)

• Linear (any parameter)

• Color (CMY, RGB and other color mixing systems only).

The last button in each row controls the STOP function for each effect type.

Note:

Effects are stored in Memories and Stack steps. They are referenced as a source, just like palettes. Thus, if you edit shape effect 3 it will be altered throughout your show whenever a memory containing that effect is played back.

Shape effects

Shape effects can only be applied to pan and tilt in devices to create a movement.

Start Shape Effects

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

3. Select Shape effect ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the

Stop Shape Effects

Shape effects can be stopped individually for any device.

Action Console Feedback

Select mode has to be active).

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

effect is activated. If the effect was empty it will enter Edit Mode. See “Edit Shape Effects”

on page 77.

1. Select devices to stop ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device Select mode has to be active).

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select buttons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

3. Select Stop Shape effect As soon as this button is pressed, the effect is stopped. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

3 Program 51

Note:

FAN

EFFECT

SEL

The shape effects are tailor designed with some common lighting situations in mind. Feel free to experiment in any other way. Remember that a moving head with tilt at 50% will never do a circle or square, it will appear as a figure-8 - it needs to be pointing forward or backward. Here is some information about them.

1. Circle - A circular fading movement

2. Square - A square fading movement

3. Infinity - A never ending journey in smooth moves

4. Lissajou - A pendular movement

5. Clover - The path outlining a four leaf clover

6. Flower - The path outlining a flower

7. Triangle- A triangular fading movement

8. Harmonics - A fast flower movement

9. Noise - An irregular and erratic movement pattern

10. Pentacle - The path outlining a pentacle

11. Skating - The movements of a skater seen from top

Offset Relations In Shape and Color Effects

’s possible to offset each device that is affected by a Shape or Color effect, so that they do not appear to move the same way all the time, instead breaking into smaller groups. This information is stored individually in each Memory or Stack state.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select Fan mode This button lights up. EFFECT will blink. If any devices are selected the parameter bump buttons will blink as well.

Note:

2. Select effect FAN and EFFECT will blink. The Offset Relation menu is opened in the LCDs.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Type Toggles between Shape and Color effects for

the selected Devices.

Relation Wheel 3 Select relation

ALL Evenly 1:2 1:3 1:4 1:5 1:6 1:7 1:8 1:9

To make sure you can use the same effect with different relations, the relation is stored in the memory or Stack state only - it is not part of the effect itself.

52 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Color Effects

EFFECT

COLOR

EFFECT

COLOR

Color effects are designed to be applied specifically to devices with color mixing systems.

Start Color Effects

Color effects can be started or edited and then started at the same time.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

3. Select color effects All programmed color effect buttons will be lit

Select mode has to be active).

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

to full.

4. Select Linear effect, and

target

.Stop Color Effects

Color effects can be stopped individually for the selected device(s).

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices to stop ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

3. Select color effects All programmed color effect buttons will be lit

4. Select Stop effect As soon as this button is pressed, the effect is

Note:

The color effects are tailor designed with some common lighting situations in mind. Feel free to experiment in any other way. Here is some information about them.

1. Rainbow - A series of fades through the colors of the rainbow

2. Harlequin - A series of steps through the colors of the rainbow

3. Flames - Random fire flicker in red and orange

4. Meadow - Random green-yellow fades

5. Cornfield - A green to blue wandering fade

6. Aqua - Random blueish to white fades

7. Royal - Random blueish to purple fades

8. Miss Piggy - Random pink to white fades.

9. Freak-out - Random flickering through all colors at high speed

10. Secondary - Steps through the secondary colors (cyan, magenta, yellow)

11. Primary - Steps through the primary colors (red, green, blue)

... Press to select one of these, or press an

empty one and edit. See “Edit Color Effects”

on page 79.

Select mode has to be active).

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

to full.

stopped. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

Note:

Effects are only referenced to Memories and Stack steps. When effects are modified they will be updated also where they have been previously recorded.

3 Program 53

Linear Effects

EFFECT

13231

EFFECT

Linear effects can be applied to any device parameter, and to dimmer intensities.

Start Linear Effects

The linear effect can only be applied to one intensity channel or parameter at a time. It can be a single parameter for a selection of devices (color, strobe etc).

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

Select mode has to be active). If you are applying the effect to intensity channels, press this first anyway.

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed. Press to select one of these, or press an empty one to edit. See “Edit Linear Effects”

on page 78.

3. Select Linear effect, and

target

Stop Linear Effects

Linear effects can be stopped individually for any device.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices to stop ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

2. Activate Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

3. Select Stop Linear effect As soon as this button is pressed, all linear

Note:

The linear effects are tailor designed with some common lighting situations in mind. Feel free to experiment in any other way. Here is some information about them.

... The faders will activate PARAM 1 mode and

all bumps with available parameters will blink. Press a bump button to select a parameter target for this effect.

You can toggle to any fader mode if you want to set an intensity channel or some other parameter as target for this effect.

Select mode has to be active).

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

effects for the selected devices are stopped. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

1. Morse - A series of dots and dashes resembling Morse code

2. Strobe - Random short duration flash to full

3. Flicker - Random staircase similar to fire flicker

4. On/Off - Regular on-off behavior

5. Wander - Gently wandering levels, semi random

6. Sparkle - Frequent irregular flashes

7. Mountain- A high frequency saw wave superimposed on a low frequency saw wave

8. Skyline - Pulses of differing heights.

9. Saw - Saw tooth

10. Cosine - Sine wave

11. Ramp - Fade up, snap off (like a ramp)s

54 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Memories

MEMS

REC

ALL

MEMS

1241

Every intensity and device setting, including effects, can be stored to a memory for playback.

There are 12 fader pages with 24 memory faders in each page. This provides a possible total of 288 memories. A recorded memory is indicated in red. The bump button lights up at full if the fader is above zero, contributing to the light output.

To select Memories mode for the faders press MEMS.

The current fader page 1-12 is indicated in the bump buttons during a second when MEMS is pressed. You can hold MEMS to verify this and to change fader page.

Record a Memory

Set up a look you want to record, including effects. You have two recording choices:

• Record All: records the complete output exactly as it is.

• Record Selected: Records selected devices. Parameter types can be masked. All intensity channels with a level above zero% will be recorded.

Record All

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate record all Buttons that can record in this mode will blink at full. If there is a memory stored already, this button is dimmed (press CLEAR to exit).

2. If needed, change page ... If needed, hold MEMS and press a bump button 1-24 to change page.

3. Select fader ... The moment the bump button is pressed, the memory is stored and the console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode. Press UNDO to undo this recording.

Test Memory

Press CLEAR four times to clear all intensities. Select MEMS mode and move the fader up. The same look you recorded should appear on stage. The light in the bump button of the fader will be dimmed to show that it has content.

3 Program 55

Record Selected

REC SEL

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

INTAINTBDEVICE INT

MEMS

1241

Record Selected will only record and play back the selected devices plus all intensity channels. You can mask Focus, Color, Beam parameters and INT A, INT B and INT DEVICE intensity channels from being recorded.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Record

Selected

Buttons that can record in this mode will blink at full. If there is a memory stored already, this button is dimmed (press CLEAR to exit).

Mask any parameter type, or single parameter, if

Any button that is pressed will be unlit and its

parameters masked from recording.

desirable

You can filter out single parameters from recording by holding FOCUS, COLOR or BEAM and toggling off the parameter buttons. The parameter type button will be dimly lit when single parameters are filtered.

Mask any intensity group if desirable

Any button that is pressed will be unlit and its

channels masked from recording.

2. If needed, change page ... If needed, hold MEMS and press a bump button 1-24 to change page.

3. Select fader ... The moment the bump button is pressed, the memory is stored and the console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode. Press UNDO to undo this recording.

56 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Snapshots

SNAP SHOT

CLEAR

SNAP SHOT

The Snapshot function is designed to make it easy to capture the current output, and store it as a memory at a later point.

• Snapshot can be pressed at any time inside any menu or function.

Snapshot captures a complete state of all output intensities and parameters, and stores them into a buffer. This buffer has 10 snapshot positions. If pressed 11 times, Snapshot will overwrite the 1st Snapshot in the buffer.

The Snapshot button

The button is off when there are no Snapshots recorded. As soon as there is a Snapshot recorded it will light at full in red.

Record a Snapshot

Action Console Feedback

Record the current output The current output is recorded. The display

will momentarily display a confirmation.

The Snapshot button will light up as soon as there are one or more Snapshots.

Copy a Snapshot to a Memory

It’s possible to copy a Snapshot to a memory in the Memories menu.

Menu>Memories>[Copy Snapshots]

Use SEL to choose between Live and Blind mode, press OK to confirm.

Menu choice Console Feedback

SNAP Wheel 1 Select snapshot 1-10

TARGET Wheel 2 Select target fader page and memory. Press

Clear all Snapshots

Action Console Feedback

Clear the Snapshot buffer and The Snapshot buffer is immediately deleted,

OK twice to confirm.

and cannot be undone.

3 Program 57

Sequences

A Sequence is a list of up to 24 steps that can be recorded to and played back from faders 13-24. Each fader page carries up to 12 sequences and there are 12 fader pages - so a total of 144 sequences can be recorded. Faders containing sequences in MEMS mode have yellow bump buttons

Each step of a sequence can contain one of two items:

• One single dimmer or device intensity channel from INT A, INT B or DEVICE INT.

• A memory from any of the 12 fader pages

Step Times

Sequence steps can have three times; Up , Down and Wait time. There is also an override Rate and Fade factor. See “Sequence & Stack Times” on page 74.

Playback modes

Sequences can be played back as a loop (chase), one-shot or manually. See “Run Modes”

on page 73.

58 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Record a Sequence

REC SEQ

13241

REC SEQ

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate record

sequence

All buttons that can record in this mode will blink at full in yellow. If there is a memory or sequence stored already, this button will be dimmed (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Choose location

(change page if desired)

... The moment the bump button is pressed, the

button will turn yellow. Now all bump buttons can be stored as steps, and blink at full in red.

3. If desired, set the times

Wheels 1 & 2

for this step

4. Select source for this

step

... You can select any memory or intensity

channel. Change fader page if desired.

When a bump button is pressed, that memory or intensity will be stored as a step with the times set in the wheels.

Repeat steps 3-4 until satisfied.

5. End recording End recording. The console will return to the fader mode prior to recording this sequence. Press UNDO to undo this recording.

Test sequence

Press CLEAR four times to clear all intensities. Select MEMS mode and move the fader for the recorded sequence up. The sequence you recorded should appear on stage. The light in the bump button of the fader will be dimmed in yellow to show that it has a sequence stored. It lights up at full if the fader is above zero and contributing to the output.

3 Program 59

Stack

The Stack sequence is recorded and played back on the Crossfader. It is intended to be the main cue list for a show. The Stack can contain up to 199 steps. Stack steps are arranged as 199 incremental steps with up to 9 decimal insertions allowed between major steps.

Each step of a Stack can contain one of three items:

• One single dimmer or device intensity channel from INT A, INT B or DEVICE INT.

• A memory from any of the 12 fader pages

• A unique Stack memory state or “cue”

Step Times

Stack steps can have three times; Up , Down and Wait time. These times are adjusted on the wheels during playback. They can also be set in the Sequence Time menu afterwards.

See “Sequence & Stack Times” on page 74.

Move While Dark

Every stack step can have a Move-While-Dark flag. This is a tag for the whole step. When it is ON all devices will go to their positions BEFORE the next step is faded in - UNLESS those devices have an intensity in the previous state - they will then go to their positions when GO is pressed. The system Move Dark Time is used for the Move While Dark parameters, and this is default set to zero. See “Default Times” on page 26.

The Stack button

When a Stack is recorded but not active, the STACK button will be dimly lit. Pressing STACK will activate the stack for playback on the crossfaders and the button will light fully.

If there is no stack recorded, the button will be unlit.

60 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Record the Stack from Bumps

REC SEQ

STACK

MOVE

DARK

REC SEQ

This function allows you to create the Stack with referenced memories or intensity channels. The steps are created as each bump button for a memory or intensity is pressed.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate record

sequence

All buttons that can record in this mode will blink at full in yellow (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Choose Stack The moment the STACK button is pressed, the button will light up in full. Now all bump buttons can be stored as steps, and blink at full in each fader mode.

3. If desired, set the times

Wheels 1 & 2

for this step

4. If desired, set Move Dark

mode

If off (unlit) all devices will move when GO is pressed for this step. If on (lit) all devices will preposition when this step is loaded to the Next fader.

5. Select a source for this

step

... You can select any memory or intensity

channel. Change fader page if desired. When a bump button is pressed, that memory or intensity will be stored as a reference to this step.

Repeat steps 3-4 until satisfied.

6. End recording End recording. The console will return to the fader mode prior to recording this sequence. Press UNDO to skip the recording.

3 Program 61

Record a Stack State or “Cue”

REC

ALL

STACK

It’s possible to record any step of the Stack as a unique memory state. In other words it does not reference a memory from any of the fader pages.

Set up a look you want to record, including effects. You have two recording choices, Record All (everything you see on stage) and Record Selected.

Record All

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate record all All buttons that can record in this mode will

2. Choose Stack The Stack is selected and the buttons stop

blink at full (press CLEAR to exit).

blinking.

3. Select Record step or

Wheel 3 Record all to the next free step

Update live step.

Record all to replace the Live step

Adjust step (optional, when recording a new step)

Wheel 1 Select step to record to. The next free step

from the current live step is auto-selected.

Adjust default times

Wheel 1, 2 & 3 (optional, when recording a new step)

4. Confirm recording The moment the button is pressed, the output

is stored and the console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode. Press UNDO to undo this recording.

62 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Record Selected

REC SEL

STACK

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

INTAINTBDEV INT

Record Selected will only record and play back the selected devices plus all intensity channels. You can mask Focus, Color and/or Beam and any intensity fader page from being recorded.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Record Selected

All buttons that can record in this mode will blink at full. If there is a memory stored already, this button will be dimmed (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Choose Stack The Stack is selected.

Mask any parameter type if desirable

Mask any intensity group if desirable

3. Select Record Step

Any button that is pressed will be unlit and it’s

parameters masked from recording.

Any button that is pressed will be unlit and it’s

intensity faders masked from recording.

Wheel 3 Record selected to the next free step. (selected step) or Update Live Step (current step).

Record selected to replace the Live step

Adjust step (optional, when recording a new step)

Wheel 1 Select step to record to. The next free step

from the current live step is selected.

Adjust default times

Wheel 1, 2 & 3 (optional, when recording a new step)

4. Confirm recording The moment the button is pressed, the output

is stored and the console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode. Press UNDO to undo this recording.

3 Program 63

64 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Chapter 4

Edit

Once you have started recording information as described in Program you can play back this information, and you can edit it. This chapter is about editing.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Edit Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

• Edit Sequences & Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

• Edit Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

• Edit Palettes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

4 Edit 65

Edit Memories

EDIT

Every memory can be edited blind (fader at zero) or live (fader at full). Device parameters are always “live” regardless of fader positions. It is possible to erase all memories at once.

See “Erase Functions” on page 26.

Edit a Memory

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Edit mode All buttons with content that can be edited will

blink at full (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Select memory (change page if necessary).

3. Edit intensities or device parameters

4. Confirm editing or exit without changes

... The moment the bump button is pressed, this

memory is selected for editing. EDIT and CLEAR will blink.

Programming functions Make any changes with all normal program-

ming functions for intensities and devices.

See “Program” on page 39.

Intensities are edited with intensity faders. Levels may have to be matched by the faders before they can be changed.

Parameters are edited for the selected device(s) with the parameter wheels, or parameter faders. To delete a parameter, press the corresponding bump button.

Palettes are edited by selecting device(s) and then palette.

As soon as EDIT is pressed the changes are stored. The console will automatically return to its previous fader mode. Press CLEAR to exit without storing changes. Press UNDO to revert to the previously recorded values.

66 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Delete a Memory

DELETE

COPY

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

INTAINTBDEVICE INT

It’s possible to delete any single memory or sequence directly.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate DELETE mode The console will enter delete mode and you

can select any bump button with a memory (or sequence) as a target (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Select target memory or stack

Delete Multiple Memories

It’s possible to delete several memories directly.

Action Console Feedback

1. Hold DELETE (held) As long as DELETE is held you can select

2. Select target memories ... Each time you press a bump button, that

Copy a Memory

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Copy mode This button lights up. All buttons with content

2. Select source memory (change page if necessary).

... When you press a bump button,the memory

(or sequence) is deleted. You can press UNDO.

any bump button with a memory as a target (press CLEAR to exit).

memory is deleted. Let go of DELETE to exit. You can only press UNDO for the last deleted memory.

will blink at full (press CLEAR to exit).

... When this button is pressed, all possible tar-

gets for this copy operation will blink. Empty ones blink at full, occupied ones are dimmed.

3. Mask any parameter type or intensity if desirable

Any button that is pressed will be unlit and it’s parameters masked from copying.

4. Select target ... As soon as the button is pressed, the source

memory is recorded. The console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode.

4 Edit 67

Default Device Times

There are two types of default device times.

• Move Dark Time = A limiting time that sets a maximum speed for any function, mainly to keep mechanical noise down. This time is used by Move While Dark prepositioning in sequence/Stack and Home.

• Palette Time = A time used when activating a palette or using Align.

They are both set in the Default Time menu

Menu>Setup>Default times[FCB Times]

Use encoder wheel 2 and 3 to set the times. Exit menu when done.

Memory FCB Times

A memory can have a time for the FCB parameters, that is used (only) when they are executed with the Bump button in GO mode. See “Memory Bump Modes” on page 83.

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Press TIME.

Step 3: Now press a bump button for a memory. The display will change to time setting.

Menu choice Console Feedback

PAGE Wheel 1 Select another fader page (or press a bump)

MEMORY Wheel 2 Select another memory (or press a bump)

FCB TIME Wheel 3 Set the FCB time for the selected memory

Step 4: Press EDIT to exit.

Test the FCB time

If you have set this time to a memory with devices and want to try it, press CLEAR 4 times to clear the output. Set all memory faders to zero. Select all devices and set to HOME. Set faders to INT ONLY and bring up the fader for the memory. Activate GO mode. Press the bump button for the memory where you set an FCB time. The device parameters should change in this time.

68 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Edit Sequences & Stack

Sequence and Stack steps are edited in the same way. The Stack has some extra editing functions since there are unique Stack states and point cues, which don’t exist in sequences. To delete all Sequences and the Stack also See “Erase Functions” on page 26.

The functions available for modifying Sequence and Stack steps are Edit, Delete, Insert and Change. For the stack there is also the option of recording up to 9 pointQs between each step.

Edit the Content of a Step

A sequence or Stack step can contain a reference to a memory in a specific page, or a single channel intensity. The Stack can have a unique memory state as well. Memories can be edited in the memory fader, or in the step. Steps that reference a single intensity channel can not be edited, you have to use change instead to change to a different single intensity channel. Unique Stack steps are edited as described, just like memories.

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Select Sequence by pressing a bump button, or press STACK.

Step 3: Select Step (wheel 2) and Action: Edit content (wheel 3). The content of the

selected step will be selected for editing.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: Make any changes with all normal programming functions for intensities and

devices. See “Program” on page 39.

Intensities are edited with intensity faders. Levels may have to be matched by the faders before they can be changed.

Parameters are edited for the selected device(s) with the parameter wheels, or parameter faders. To delete a parameter, press the corresponding bump button.

Palettes are edited by selecting device(s) and then palette.The left display will show the intensities in the selected fader page of this step. Use the intensity faders and Device controls to edit the memory.

Step 5: Press EDIT to confirm and exit.

4 Edit 69

Delete a Step

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Select Sequence by pressing a bump button, or press STACK.

Step 3: Select Step (wheel 1) and Action: Delete Step (wheel 3).

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: You will be asked to confirm deleting the selected step.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 5: Exit by pressing EDIT or continue with Actions from Step 2. You can press UNDO

to skip and revert to the data previous to this action.

Insert a Step

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Select Sequence by pressing a bump button, or press STACK.

Step 3: Select Step (wheel 1) and Insert (wheel 3). The new step will be inserted after

the selected step. You can also select to append the step to the end of the sequence with the option “Append New Step”.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: Press any bump in any fader page and fader mode.

The step is inserted as soon as the bump button is pressed.

Step 5: Press EDIT to complete, or continue with Actions from Step 2. You can press

UNDO to skip and revert to the data previous to this action.

70 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Insert a PointQ

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Select Stack by pressing STACK.

Step 3: Select Step (wheel 1) and Insert PointQ (wheel 3). The new PointQ step will be

inserted after the selected step.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: Use wheel 2 to select which PointQ (0.1-0.9), and then press any bump in any

fader page and fader mode.

The PointQ is stored as soon as the bump button is pressed.

Step 5: Press EDIT to complete, or continue with Actions from Step 2.

Change the Content of a Step

Use this function to change the memory or channel content of a step to another content.

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Select Sequence by pressing a bump button, or press STACK.

Step 3: Select Step (wheel 1) and Insert (wheel 3). The content of the selected step will

be changed for a new content.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 4: Press any bump in any fader page and fader mode.

The change is stored as soon as the bump button is pressed.

Step 5: Press EDIT to exit, or continue with Actions from Step 2. You can press UNDO

to skip and revert to the data previous to this action.

4 Edit 71

Copy a Sequence

COPY

1241

DELETE

STACK

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Copy mode This button lights up. All buttons with content will blink at full (press CLEAR to exit).

2. Select source sequence

... When this button is pressed, all possible tar(change page if necessary).

3. Select target ... As soon as the button is pressed, the source

Delete a Sequence or the Stack

It’s possible to delete any single sequence (or memory) or the stack directly.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate DELETE mode The console will enter delete mode and you

2. Select target sequence or the Stack

... or When you press the bump or Stack button, it

gets for this copy operation will blink. Empty ones blink at full, occupied ones are dimmed.

sequence is recorded. The console will automatically return to it’s previous fader mode.

can select any bump button with a Sequence (or memory) or the Stack as a target (press CLEAR to exit).

the content is deleted, and the console will return to the previous mode. You can press UNDO.

72 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Run Modes

There are three run modes for a Sequence: Manual, One Shot and Loop (default).

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Press TIME.

Step 3: Now press a bump button for a sequence. You will get this display.

Step 4: Use encoder wheel 3 to select [Run mode]. Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 5: Select run mode using encoder wheel 3. Press (MENU) to confirm.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Loop Wheel 3 Default behavior for Sequences (not avail-

able for the Stack). The Sequence will loop from the last step back to the first, endlessly.

Manual Wheel 3 Default behavior for the Stack. A press of the

GO key is required to advance to the next step. Sequences in this mode use the bump button to advance to the next step.

One Sht Wheel 3 Runs sequences through one full cycle only.

Stack will run automatically through the cue list once with a single press of GO.

Step 6: Done. Press EDIT to exit.

4 Edit 73

Sequence & Stack Times

Each Sequence step can have three times, Up, Down and Wait. In addition to these times there is an overall Rate and Fade time that affect the whole Sequence. These times are set/ changed during playback.

Default Fade Times

Default fade times are set from the Setup menu.

Menu>Setup>Default Times>[Fade Times]

Menu choice Console Feedback

UP Wheel 1 Default Up times

DOWN Wheel 2 Default Down times

WAIT Wheel 3 Default Wait times

Set Times Live

The TIME button allows you to change the fade times for each step of the Stack during playback. This can be done for the last fade (normal) or the next fade (NEXT active).

Press TIME (with STACK active).

The set times are stored.

Rate

The RATE button can provide Rate and Fade controls for the Stack. This will affect the playback of the whole Sequence or Stack.

Press RATE (with STACK active).

Menu choice Console Feedback

Rate Wheel 1 Set a Rate that will scale the total time of the

whole Stack.

Fade Wheel 2 Set a balance between the fade and the wait

time for all steps. Fade 0% means no fade.

74 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Edit Step Times Blind

It is possible to edit the times blind, for each step of a Sequence or Stack. This is done with the EDIT function.

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Press TIME.

Step 3: Now press a bump button for a sequence. You will get this display.

Step 4: Use encoder wheel 3 to select [Single step]. Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 5: Use encoder wheel 3 to select a step.

Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 6: Use the encoder wheels to set times for the selected step. Exit the menus when

done.

Menu choice Console Feedback

UP Wheel 1 Up time

DOWN Wheel 2 Down time

WAIT Wheel 3 Wait time

Step 7: Done. Press EDIT to exit.

4 Edit 75

Global Time For All Steps

It is possible to edit the times globally for all steps of a Sequence or Stack. This is set with the EDIT functions. All previous timing information is replaced and cannot be undone.

Step 1: Press EDIT

Step 2: Press TIME.

Step 3: Now press a bump button for a sequence. You will get this display.

Step 4: Use encoder wheel 3 to select [All steps]. Press (MENU) to confirm.

Step 5: Use the wheels to set Global Timing for all steps of the select Sequence or Stack.

Menu choice Console Feedback

UP Wheel 1 Up time for all steps

DOWN Wheel 2 Down time for all steps

WAIT Wheel 3 Wait time for all steps

Step 6: Press (MENU) to store.

Press (MENU) to confirm

Step 7: Done. Press EDIT to exit.

76 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Edit Effects

EDIT

EFFECT

All effects need to be edited to be able to use them. This chapter describes how to edit them regardless if the starting point is an empty effect, or an existing one.

Edit Shape Effects

If an empty effect is started, it will automatically go into Edit Effect mode.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select Edit Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

2. Select Effect to edit ... The selected effect select button will blink.

Press MORE for more options (toggle)

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

The effect menu is opened in the LCDs. (press CLEAR to exit).

Menu choice Console Feedback

Speed Wheel 1 Set speed 0-100

Depth Wheel 2 Set depth 0-100

Table Wheel 3 Select table

1 Circle 2 Square 3 Infinity 4 Lissajou 5 Clover 6 Flower 7 Triangle 8 Harmonics 9 Noise 10 Pentacle 11 Skating

Rotation Wheel 1 Rotate the current shape 0-359

Aspect Wheel 2 Set an aspect 0-100

4 Edit 77

Edit Linear Effects

EFFECT

If an empty effect is started, it will automatically go into Edit Effect mode.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select Edit Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

2. Select Effect to edit ... The selected effect select button will blink.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Speed Wheel 1 Set speed 0-100

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed.

The select parameter menu is opened in the right LCD.

Select what parameter type the effect will be applied to by pressing a bump button in PARAM 1 or PARAM 2. The display will switch to effect editing when this is done.

Depth Wheel 2 Set depth 0-100

Table Wheel 3 Select table

1 Morse 2 Strobe 3 Flicker 4 Lightning 5 Wander 6 Sparkle 7 Mountain 8 Skyline 9 Saw 10 Cosine 11 Ramp

78 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Edit Color Effects

EFFECT

COLOR

If an empty effect is started, it will automatically go into Edit Effect mode.

Action Console Feedback

1. Select Edit Effect mode This button lights up. The Effect select but-

2. Select color effects The Color Effect page is selected with color

2. Select Effect to edit ... The displays will switch to effect editing for

Press MORE for more options (toggle)

tons light up full, empty ones are dimmed. The COLOR button will blink.

effects 1-11. Buttons with created effects are bright, empty ones are dimmed.

this effect. If it already existed it will be started.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Speed Wheel 1 Set speed 0-100

Chroma Wheel 2 Set depth +/- 100

Table Wheel 3 Select table

1 Rainbow 2 Harlequin 3 Flames 4 Meadow 5 Cornfield 6 Aqua 7 Royal 8 Miss Piggy 9 Freak-out 10 Secondary 11 Primary

Base Wheel 1 Set start color

Range Wheel 2 Set end color

Style Wheel 3 Set playback direction

Forward Backward Bounce

4 Edit 79

Edit Palettes

RECORD

PAL/GRP

FOCUS

COLOR

BEAM

Palettes are stored as references in memories to speed up corrections in a show. For example, if you have used a COLOR palette Red in several memories and you want this red to be darker everywhere - just update the Red palette. The change will be reflected in all memories that have a reference to this palette.

If you had recorded the CMY parameter values for red instead of using palettes, you would have had to update each memory with this red separately and parameter by parameter.

Edit a Palette

Action Console Feedback

1. Select devices ... Selected device buttons are lit to full (Device

Select mode has to be active).

2. Make changes Parameter functions All changes are reflected live on the output.

3. Activate recording All buttons that can record in this mode will

blink (press CLEAR to exit).

4. Select palette type This button lights up. All 24 select buttons will

blink dimmed. Already recorded ones will blink at full.

5. Re-record palette ... As soon as a select button is pressed, the pal-

ette is stored to that button and updated in all memories. The console will automatically return to Device Select mode.

80 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Chapter 5

Playback

As soon as you have programmed information you can play it back in different ways. This chapter is about playback functions.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• General Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

• Memories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

• Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85

• Stack & Crossfader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

5 Playback 81

General Functions

BLACK

OUT

CLEAR

INT

CLEAR

INT

CLEAR

DEV

INTE

CLEAR

EFFECT

CLEAR

STACK

CLEAR

Master & Black Out function

To get light output (at all), the Master needs to be at full, and the Black Out button off.

The Master fader proportionally limits all intensity outputs, while parameters for devices are left untouched. As soon as the Master is faded under 100% the Blackout button will blink.

The Blackout button instantly sends all intensity outputs to zero. As soon as it is activated the button will light up. Device parameters are not affected by these two functions.

Note:

Clear

The Independent channels patched to IND 1 and IND 2 are not affected by the Master fader or Black Out button unless they are set to “GM” in the Independent Settings. See

“Set up Independents” on page 22.

Light output from the intensity faders is also affected by the NEXT button. See “Intensity

Channels” on page 40.

Clear is a very useful button that will bring you back to a “clean” state of the console with no output. Pressing CLEAR will NEVER erase content - it only brings the fader intensities to zero. You can press CLEAR to abort any recording function if it is blinking.

• Set all dimmer and device intensity faders to zero . . . = 2 presses

• Set all memory faders to zero (blackout) . . . . . . . . . . = 3 presses

• Set sequence/Stack faders to zero (blackout) . . . . . .= 4 presses

• Deselect all currently selected devices . . . . . . . . . . . = 5 presses

CLEAR is also used in combination with other keys. For example

Action Console Feedback

Clear A intensities and All INT A intensities are cleared.

Clear B intensities and All INT B intensities are cleared.

Clear Device Intensities and All Device intensities are cleared.

Clear Effects and All Effects are cleared.

Clear Stack and The Stack is cleared and set to zero.

Clear Fader level and ... The fader is set to zero.

Bump Master

The Bump Master sets the level to which bump buttons will flash. See Bump Button functionality for each type of fader mode.

82 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Memories

MEMS

INT

ONLY

SOLO

MODE

Memories are played back from the faders in MEMS mode. In each of the 12 fader pages the buttons with memories stored will light up dimmed in red when a page is selected. When the fader is contributing to the output, the button will light up in full.

Select Fader Page

If a fader is above zero when a different page is selected, it will not be updated to the content of the new page until it is brought to zero. Press MEMS twice within 1 second to select page 1 quickly.

Action Console Feedback

Select fader page (Held) As long as the button is held, the current fader

Memory Fader Modes

Memories with both intensities and device parameters can behave in two ways when the corresponding fader is moved. This is controlled with the INT ONLY button.

page is indicated with a lit bump 1-12. To select a new page, press bump 1-12 and let go of the MEMS button.

• OFF = Intensities and device parameters follow the fader progressively from zero to full.

• ON = Only intensities will follow the fader.

Memory Bump Modes

When a bump button is pressed there are different behaviors for memories depending on two modes: SOLO and GO MODE.

Pile-on or Solo

The content of memory faders can be bumped to the level of the BUMPS fader in two ways. This is controlled with the SOLO button.

• OFF = The level generated by pressing a bump button adds into the live output.

• ON = The level generated by pressing a bump button replaces the current output.

Go Mode

Device parameters in a memory can be bumped in two ways. This is controlled with the GO MODE button.

• OFF = Pressing a bump button adds device parameters and intensities temporarily into the live output, following the rules of Pile-on and Solo.

• ON = Pressing a bump button activates all device parameters in this memory. Intensities are not affected.

5 Playback 83

Clear Output from Memory Faders

CLEAR

MEMS

Action Console Feedback

Clear output from Memory Faders

and All memory faders will be set to zero.

Examples of Using Memory Faders

Learning how to use SmartFade ML in different situations, combining the different functions to create shows on the fly, or adapting to different situations is in many ways a matter of your previous experience of moving devices, the time you can spend testing, and your curiosity about what is possible. There are many different ways to approach the same situation, here are some examples that might prove helpful.

How Memory Faders Interact

Device parameters are LTP. Try the following setup.

Step 1: Create two completely different memories using devices on fader 1 and 2.

Different intensities, different color, focus and beam properties.

Step 2: Make sure INT ONLY and GO MODE are off.

Step 3: Bring up fader 1. The devices will fade into the intensities and parameters of this

fader. Leave the fader up.

Step 4: Bring up fader 2. The devices will fade into the intensities and parameters of this

fader.

Step 5: Bring fader 1 down. Nothing will happen because parameters have been “stolen”

by fader 2, and are only “stolen back” when a fader is brought up from zero.

Step 6: Bring fader 1 back up. The devices will fade into the intensities and parameters

of this fader.

Step 7: Bring both faders down. Press the bump button. Intensities and parameters will

flash simultaneously to the full values of this fader.

Step 8: Now activate GO MODE. This will change the behavior of the bump buttons.

Instead of temporarily flashing the contents of the fader to full, ONLY the parameters will be triggered, and stay triggered so that you can bump into a position and then bring up the fader with the intensities.

Step 9: Now activate INT ONLY. Faders will now ONLY control intensities. This means

that you can use the bump buttons to activate parameters, and the faders to fade intensities.

Note:

The times used here are the default FCB times or the memory FCB times.

See “Default Device Times” on page 68. See “Memory FCB Times” on page 68.

Memory Rubberband

The faders can be set to allow parameters to follow the fade back down. This is called Memory Rubberband and is default set to Off.

See “Memory Rubberband” on page 27.

84 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Sequences

MEMS

SOLO

MODE

Sequences are played back from the faders in MEMS mode. In each of the 12 fader pages the buttons with stored sequences will light up dimmed in yellow when a page is selected. When the fader is contributing to the output, the button will light up in full.

Select Fader Page

If a fader is above zero when a different page is selected, it will not be updated to the content of the new page until it reaches zero.

Action Console Feedback

Select fader page (Held) As long as the button is held, the current fader

Sequence Bump Modes

When a bump button is pressed there are different behaviors for sequences depending on two buttons: SOLO and GO MODE.

Pile-on or Solo

The content of sequence faders can be bumped to the level of the BUMPS fader in two ways. This is controlled with the SOLO button.

page is indicated with a lit bump 1-12. To select a new page, press bump 1-12 and let go of the MEMS button.

• OFF = The level generated by pressing a bump button adds into the live output.

• ON = The level generated by pressing a bump button replaces the current output.

Go Mode

A Sequence can be bumped in two ways. This is controlled with the GO MODE button.

• OFF = Pressing a bump button adds the sequence output temporarily into the live output, following the rules of Pile-on and Solo.

• ON = Pressing a bump button is like a GO button for each step of a sequence in manual mode. For a looped sequence it will be Go/Pause.

5 Playback 85

Rate & BPM for Sequences

RATE

CLEAR

The RATE button can provide Rate, Fade and BPM override for any sequence. This will affect the playback of the whole Sequence temporarily. When a Rate or BPM override is cleared the original times are retained.

Press RATE and then the bump button of any sequence.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Rate Wheel 1 Set a Rate that will scale the total time of the

Fade Wheel 2 Set a balance between the fade and the wait

BPM Wheel 3 Shows the current BPM. It can be set with the

BPM

Beats Per Minute (BPM) is a musical term that can be applied to the playback rate of a sequence in looped mode. The BPM rate is stored as an override to the wait time (step time). All steps will be set to the same wait time override = the same duration.

whole Sequence.

time for all steps. Fade 0% means no fade.

wheel or by tapping the bump button. .

Individual step times are not altered, however, if a step has a longer fade time than the BPM time then this fade will not complete before the next step starts.

Action Console Feedback

Set BPM and ... Hold RATE and hit the bump button of any

sequence more than once. The timing between these bump presses is clocked and used to calculate a BPM rate. This will override the Rate function - which will be set to nothing “---”

Original wait timing is not lost and may be recovered by clearing the BPM time.

Clearing Rate, Fade & BPM

Action Console Feedback

Reset Rate, Fade & BPM and ... The rate and BPM settings for the currently

selected sequence will be reset and the sequence will default back to its original times.The sequence fader will be set to zero.

86 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Stack & Crossfader

CLEAR

STACK

The Crossfader can be used to play back the Stack with up to 199 steps, or for single-scene operation (depending on the state of the STACK and NEXT buttons).

General Crossfader Controls

The Crossfader consists of a Live and Next fader, plus the Crossfade transport buttons. A crossfade is done by moving the crossfaders from the down position to the up position. This can be changed, See “Crossfade Faders” on page 26.

The Crossfade Go and Pause buttons are these:

Action Console Feedback

Start a crossfade Starts a crossfade. The button will blink

Pause a crossfade The current crossfade is paused. It can be

Go Back and Hold PAUSE and press GO to fade to the pre-

during the fade.

resumed with GO, or reversed with PAUSE.

vious step (only when STACK is active).

Go to first step and Hold CLEAR and press GO to clear the

Note:

DIPLESS: SmartFade ML provides dipless crossfades as long as both faders are moved in parallel. This means that active channels which remain unchanged in both scenes will not 'dip' to 50% of their level as you move the crossfaders from one scene to the next, making for much better-looking scene transitions. To create a blackout between two steps, move only the Live fader to it’s end position.

Stack functions

By pressing STACK, the Stack is activated (lit at full) and connected to the Crossfader controls.The cue stack is loaded onto the Crossfader at step 0 (a non-existent step before step one) so that pressing GO, or starting a manual fade, will fade to step 1. The right display will show cue texts if they have been set in SmartSoft. During a crossfade, times are shown and counted down in the right display.

The LCDs will show the current state of the Stack (providing DEVICE SELECT is OFF).

output of the Crossfader. If STACK is active it will jump to the first step of the Stack.

If STACK is off the Crossfader operates only the Single Scene Crossfading function. See

“Single Scene Crossfading” on page 89.

If there is nothing stored in the Stack, the button will be off completely when not activated. otherwise it will be dimmed.

5 Playback 87

Jump to Any Step

STACK

CLEAR

RATE

It’s possible to go directly to any step of the Stack with this function.

Action Console Feedback

Activate GOTO mode (held) As long as the button is held, the display will

Change Times For The Stack

You can activate the TIME button and set/change fade times with the wheels. If NEXT is active you are working with times for the next crossfade. If NEXT is inactive you are working with times for the already completed crossfade.

allow you to scroll to any step.

Let go of Stack to transport the whole sequence to this step in Next - ready for the next crossfade. Device Parameters are accumulated and will be executed when GO is pressed.

Press GO to execute a crossfade using these times. The Times are stored with each step.

Rate for the Stack

The RATE button can provide Rate and Fade override for the whole Stack. This will affect the playback of the whole Stack temporarily. When a Rate or Fade override is cleared the original times are retained.

Press RATE and then STACK.

Menu choice Console Feedback

Rate Wheel 1 Set a Rate that will scale the total time of the

Fade Wheel 2 Set a balance between the fade and the wait

Reset Rate

Action Console Feedback

whole Stack.

time for all steps. Fade 0% means no fade.

Reset Rate and The rate settings will be reset and the Stack

will default back to the original times.

88 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Single Scene Crossfading

INTAINTBDEVICE INT

When STACK is off and NEXT is on, SmartFade ML is set up to run like a single-scene crossfading console operating only on intensity levels.

Action Console Feedback

1. Activate Next mode The intensity faders no longer contribute to

2. Set intensities Set up any intensities manually with the inten-

3. Crossfade manually Crossfaders Move the Crossfader pair from bottom to top.

To fade endlessly between Live and Next: hold PAUSE before reaching the end of a crossfade - this will prevent the release of the intensity channels so you can fade back to that look. Let go of PAUSE to terminate the crossfade.

Fade with Times

You can activate the TIME button and set default fade times with the wheels.

the live output.

sity faders. They will not be output.

As soon as both crossfaders reach the end of the current fade, the intensity channels are released from the Live fader for setting the next look.

Press GO to execute a crossfade using these times.

5 Playback 89

Appendix A

Software Update

This appendix contains the instructions for updating the software in your SmartFade ML console. There are two ways of updating the software.

• Using the SD card

• Connecting with USB to a PC

Software can be downloaded from the ETC Web site: www.etcconnect.com

Please make sure to download the correct software for your console - SmartFade ML and SmartFade use different software.

To verify the version that your console is running, See “Software Version” on page 28.

CAUTION:

Make sure to back up any show data you want to keep to the SD card before proceeding with a software upgrade.

Only standard SD Memory cards or connection to a PC via USB may be used for updating the software on a SmartFade console. Software update is not possible using an SDHC Memory card.

Update the Software

SD Card Update

If you are using an SD card for the very first time - make sure it is formatted correctly (FAT16) , or it will not function with SmartFade ML. Also make sure it is not an SDHC card.

See “Format SD Memory Card” on page 9.

Step 1: Obtain the software update file SMRTFDML.SRC from the download section of

the ETC Web site: www.etcconnect.com

Step 2: Copy the SMRTFDML.SRC file to the root directory of the SD card. DO NOT

RENAME THE FILE!

Step 3: Start the console in test mode. This is done by holding down the MENU button

and pressing once on ON.

The unit will enter self-test mode. Press MENU for each of the tests until the memory test has completed. At the end of the memory test the display will prompt:

Firmware Upgrade Are you sure? [No]

Step 4: Insert the SD card into the console.

Step 5: Turn the encoder to select YES and press MENU. The update will start and the

console will boot into the new updated software after the process is complete.

90 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Note:

USB Update

To update with USB you need a PC running the Windows operating system (Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 7).

Step 1: Obtain the software update file SMRTFDML.SRC and the USB Download

Step 2: Connect a USB cable between the SmartFade ML and the

Step 3: Double-click on the SFDownloader.exe application you downloaded from the

If you have accidentally initiated a software update, you can exit without making any changes by unplugging the console.

application SFDownloader.exe from the download section of the ETC Web site:

www.etcconnect.com

PC. The USB cable must have Type A and Type B connectors.

Make sure you have backed up any show data you want to keep to the SD card before proceeding. Show data will be lost and cannot be recovered.

ETC Web site. You should get this display.

Step 4: Start the console in test mode. This is done by holding down the MENU button

and pressing once on ON.

The unit will enter self-test mode. Press MENU for each of the tests until the memory test has completed. At the end of the memory test the display will prompt:

Firmware Upgrade Are you sure? [No]

Step 5: Once the connection with the console is recognized, the status information will

display the Bootloader Version, and then “Please Load Firmware File”. The FILE button will be displayed with solid text.

Click FILE and select the SMRTFDML.SRC file.

Step 6: Now the DOWNLOAD button will be displayed with a solid text.

Click on DOWNLOAD to start downloading. The progress bar will begin to move. When the download is complete, the console will boot into the new updated software.

A 91

Index

Numerics

16 bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Adjust Channel Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Align . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

black out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 82

Change the content of a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

CMY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Color Mix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

contact ETC technical services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Copy a Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Copy a Sequence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Default Fade Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Default Patch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Delete a memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Delete a Sequence or the Stack . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Delete a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Device Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Device Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Device Palettes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Device Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

DMX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

DMX Out Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

DMX, definition of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Edit a memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Edit step times blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Edit the content of a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

ETC locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Fetch Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Global Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76

Go Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83

Highlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

IND 1 and IND 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Independents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Insert a Step . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

Intensity mimic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Invert Parameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37

language setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

LCD menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

LED Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Linear Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

Live or Next mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Load patch from card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Load show from card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

master fader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 82

Matching values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Memory Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Menu Directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

MIDI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Moving Light Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

Moving Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

operating modes menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Fade With Intensity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

92 SmartFade ML v3.0.1 User Manual

Pan/Tilt 16 bit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Patch Live or Blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Patch multiple devices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

ETC SmartFade ML User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Introduction

Using this Manual

Instructions

Menu Directions

Text Conventions

Help from ETC Technical Services

Power-up and Shutdown Procedures

Unpack & Connect

Power-up Procedure

Shutdown Procedure

Operating Modes

Save & Load to Memory Card

Save Show to Card

Quick Save Show to Card

Load show from Card

Load Patch from Card

Load User Personalities from Card

Load Personalities from Card

Format SD Memory Card

General Information

Control Capacity

Frontpanel Functionality

General Buttons

Faders & Bump Buttons

Fader Playback Modes

Bump Playback Modes

Master & Black Out Function

Independents

Crossfader

Sequence & Stack Functions

Record & Edit Functions

The Select Section

Attributes functions

Selection functions

Modify functions

LCD & Wheel Functions

Right LCD - Main menu

Left LCD - Sub menus

LCD - Preview mode

Philosophy of the Console

HTP and LTP control rules

Different Ways to Use SmartFade ML

Data Structure & Timing

Setup

DMX Output

DMX Out Speed

Clear/Set Patch

Clear Intensity Patch

Set Intensity Patch 1:1

Clear Device Patch

Patch Dimmers (INT)

Patch by Dimmer

Patch by Channel

Patch Independents

Set up Independents

Patch Devices

Device Personalities

Patch Multiple Devices

Check Device Patch

Device Commands

View/Modify Device Patch

Device Settings

Console Setup

Erase Functions

Default Times

Crossfade Faders

Memory Rubberband

DMX Out

MIDI Settings

Language

Displays

Software Version

LED Calibration

Save LED Calibration

Load LED Calibration

MIDI Setup